DMTCL MD Blames 'Faulty Design, Negligence' for Fatal Metro Bearing Pad Collapse; Vows Accountability

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Faruque Ahmed, addressing the fatal bearing pad fall near the Farmgate Metro Rail Station, strongly stated that the incident was likely caused by faulty design and negligence on the part of the contractor and consulting firms.

This tragic accident, which claimed the life of pedestrian Abul Kalam Azad, marks the second such failure in approximately a year at or near the same location.

Speaking at a press briefing, the MD pinned primary responsibility on the consulting firms for failing to properly verify the construction work, citing a "lack of expertise" that led to deficiencies. He emphasized that every party responsible for certifying the work, from design to execution, will be held accountable if irregularities are confirmed by the ongoing investigation. The MD also questioned why safety checks are necessary for infrastructure built with long-term durability, noting the conflict of interest with the project investors and his limited authority despite a 50-year warranty framework.

The MD confirmed that both physical and drone inspections were conducted after the previous year’s incident, with a follow-up inspection two months ago. However, the recurrence of the accident has led DMTCL to initiate an independent safety assessment of the system, expected to take two to three months. In the interim, he urged political parties and the public to refrain from pasting posters on metro pillars, as these conceal potential physical cracks and hinder engineers’ ability to detect faults.

Faruque Ahmed disclosed that the critical Line-1 project currently lacks a Project Director, with four to five new directors slated for appointment soon. He also revealed that DMTCL has not yet formally taken over the finished Line-6 work from the contractors, who remain obligated to address major faults during the defect liability period. He reiterated the company’s intent to move forward by prioritizing local expertise and strengthening technical capacity through smart financing, including potential design changes for future lines.

The DMTCL MD confirmed that the victim's family has been provided with Tk 5 lakh in "immediate assistance," stressing that this is not compensation for the loss of life. As part of a long-term support plan, the DMTCL has met with the deceased's wife and arranged a job for her based on her qualifications. She will be eligible for promotion once she completes her honors degree in about six months.

Following the accident, a High Court writ petition was filed seeking an independent probe into the authorities' alleged negligence, underscoring public and expert concerns that the incident highlights systemic failures and inadequate response to the first bearing pad collapse in September 2024.