National
PM Sheikh Hasina opens metro rail’s Agargaon-Motijheel section
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the second phase of the long-awaited metro rail service in the capital, connecting Uttara with Motijheel. During the inauguration ceremony, she waved the green flag at Agargaon station, symbolizing the commencement of metro train operations towards Motijheel. The premier expressed her satisfaction with the initiative, emphasizing its role in providing convenient transportation, saving time, reducing traffic congestion, and stimulating economic growth.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the government’s goal is to expand the metro rail network to Kamalapur Railway Station, further enhancing the public transportation infrastructure. She extended her gratitude to Japan, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), development partners, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, and all the individuals involved in the metro rail project.
The metro train, carrying the Prime Minister, arrived at Motijheel station, marking the successful completion of this phase. Additionally, she inaugurated the construction work of MRT Line-5 (Northern route), a 20-km line from Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur-10, and Gulshan, with a project deadline of 2028.
This initiative is part of a broader plan to establish a 140km metro rail network in Dhaka and its adjacent areas, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and pollution. The physical construction work of MRT Line-1, the first underground metro rail in the country, began earlier this year. The extended route from Agargaon to Motijheel will be open to the public starting at 7:30 am on November 5, nearly a year after the initial launch of the metro service between Uttara and Agargaon.
Commuters will have the opportunity to travel from Uttara to Motijheel, with trains operating every 10 minutes from 7:30 am to 11:30 am on the Agargaon-Motijheel route and from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm on the Uttara-Agargaon route. The metro rail authorities have opened three of the seven stations in this section, with the remaining four stations expected to open in the next three months.
The Agargaon to Motijheel section covers a distance of 8.72 km, with an additional 1.16 km extension to Kamalapur, slated for completion by June 2024. The journey from Uttara to Motijheel, including all 16 stations, will take approximately 38 minutes once the full route is operational.
Currently, around 90,000 people use the metro rail daily, and this number is expected to reach 500,000 when the route from Uttara to Motijheel becomes fully functional. The government is implementing the fast-track project to construct a 21.26km elevated metro line from Uttara to Kamalapur at a cost of Taka 33,472 crore. Each train can carry 2,300 passengers and is capable of running at speeds of 100 to 110 km/h.
Since assuming power in 2009, the Awami League government has been actively working on initiatives to ease traffic congestion in the capital, including the construction of a metro rail network. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has played a pivotal role in funding and constructing the metro rail project, providing a soft loan of Taka 19,500 crore.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
