Metro rail another feather in Bangladesh's cap: PM Hasina
The premier urges all to maintain and preserve metro rail when opened for public
"With the introduction of metro rail today, another feather has been added to the country's cap of big achievements," Prime Minister Hasina declared while inaugurating the country's first-ever elevated metro rail in the capital.
It came nearly six months after she had inaugurated the dream Padma Bridge, another communication milestone for the country.
The metro rail feather was not just reserved for the country. It may be an even more significant political victory for PM Hasina's Awami League, which has an eye on the upcoming 2024 elections.
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"I am grateful to the people as they voted for Awami League and allowed us to serve them," PM Hasina said while opening the 11.73km part of the MRT Line-6 from Diabari to Agargaon on Wednesday, BSS reported.
In times of rising inflation, a dollar crunch, and depleting foreign reserves, adding a glitzy, new, never-before-seen metro rail was a victory on many different fronts.
The government's prowess in delivering on its promises, even if partially, was a theme repeated by other party leaders.
The party's General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the country's first-ever elevated metro rail was another golden feather added to the crown of the government's success.
"Through the inauguration of the Metro train, the much-awaited dream of the Dhaka dwellers have been fulfilled," he said while addressing a civic rally after the inauguration at Uttara Sector-15 in the capital.
"The people of the country are getting the golden yield of the [country's] independence one by one under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he declared, the BSS reported.
Political rhetoric aside, the metro rail is expected to relieve some of the burdens of a city plagued with interminable traffic snarls.
With over 10.2 million people living in the city, according to the Population and Housing Census 2022, the metro rail is set to cut down journey hours from two-three hours to a matter of minutes.
Prime Minister Hasina was the first to experience the era she had ushered in. The PM became the first passenger after she got her ticket and boarded the train. She was accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana and around 200 others, including ministers, government officials, diplomats, and freedom fighters.
They left from Uttara to Agargain around 1:50pm.
The PM earlier on the day cited four other milestones that the country has achieved with its first-ever metro rail.
"The other milestone is that the metro rail runs on electricity. It is an environment-friendly mode of transportation.
"The third milestone is that the metro rail can be operated remotely. Lastly, the introduction of metro rail marks the advent of high-speed trains in the country," the premier added.
She said some 50.60 lakh people will use the trains every day when all the metro lines go into operation in 2030
"I thank everyone for this accomplishment. However, we have to be careful when using the metro rail. We have to maintain and preserve the trains and keep them clean and tidy," she added.
The 11.73 kilometres section out of 21.26km will be the first to go into operation. The lineup to Motijheel is expected to be inaugurated in December 2023.
Initially, the operating hours will be for four hours, from 8:00am to noon.
There will be a train every 10 minutes, with more sets to be added to reduce waiting time. A top speed of 100kmh is possible.
The fare from Uttara to Agargaon has been set at Tk60, while the minimum fare is Tk20. Each train can transport around 2,300 people.
The MRT-6 is expected to carry around 4.83 lakh passengers daily, cutting trip time to approximately 38 minutes.
The MRT-6, most of it funded by Japan, costs Tk33,472 crore.
Of remembrance, celebrations
At the inauguration ceremony, PM Hasina remembered the seven Japanese engineers who were killed in the 1 July 2016 terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Bakery.
She said the identities of slain Japanese technical experts would be honoured in the Metro Rail establishment in Diabari, Uttara.
"Also, special arrangements are in place for those with special needs. Every train will have a coach reserved for women. Freedom fighters will be able to travel for free," she said.
Taking a moment, she also thanked the people of the country and those who had to endure inconveniences to fulfil this dream.
"This is a great moment for all of us. I would like to thank all those involved with the project.
"I would also like to extend my gratitude to the people who live near the construction area and express solidarity for their suffering, patience and cooperation," Sheikh Hasina added.
"Some 50.60 lakh people will use the trains every day when all the metro lines go into operation in 2030," the prime minister said.
"I thank everyone for this accomplishment. However, we have to be careful when using the metro rail. We have to maintain and preserve the trains and keep them clean and tidy," she added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina released a commemorative banknote of Tk50 to mark the opening of the metro rail. A munajat was also offered during the day.
The joy of the victory was felt by many.
Mariam Afiza, who became the first metro train operator and the first woman operator of the Mass Rapid Transit line-6, said, "We are very excited. I feel proud and honoured to have Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on board as the country witnessed its first-ever metro ride.
"The metro trains that are being used in the country are sophisticated machines. They are very safe to use and are equipped with many advanced technologies," she added.
A madrasa student from Uttara, among the 200 people who joined the premier in the country's maiden metro journey, said, "I am thrilled to be a part of the prime minister's entourage.
"The metro rail will bring massive changes in the way we travel."
Bangladesh is the third country in South Asia to operate a metro rail service - being a late starter in the expensive and complicated venture compared to neighbouring India, which got its first metro commissioned in 1984 in Kolkata. Pakistan started its first metro in Lahore just two years back.
