National
New Metro Rail Schedule Eases Commuting Hassles for Dhaka Residents
Daily commuters, including service holders and traders, are rejoicing as the Metro Rail authorities have adjusted their schedule, now operating trains every 8 minutes during peak hours from Saturday. The increased frequency of metro rail trips, now totaling 26, results in a daily count of 178 trains, a rise from the previous 152, according to MN Siddique, the managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
Siddique outlined the new schedule, mentioning that three trains will run from Uttara between 7:10 am to 7:30 am, and then every 8 minutes from 7:31 am to 11:48 am during peak hours. Post-peak hours, from 11:49 am to 3:12 pm, the trains will run every 12 minutes, reverting to an 8-minute frequency from 3:13 pm to 8:00 pm during peak hours.
Commuters, such as Nazrul Islam at Mirpur-11 Rail Station, have expressed relief due to the less crowded conditions resulting from the new schedule. Another commuter, Hossain, suggested further improvement, stating, “It will be better if the timing can be reduced to 3.5 minutes.”
Except on Fridays, Metro Rail will now operate from Uttara to Motijheel from 7:10 am to 8:40 pm. MRT and Rapid Pass users can travel until 8 pm from Motijheel station. Currently, trains run every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 12 minutes during off-peak hours. The adjusted timings apply only during peak hours, clarified MN Siddique, adding that the daily train trips have increased from 152 to 178.
Siddique highlighted that the metro trains presently carry an average of about 2.70 lakh passengers daily. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first metro rail in Dhaka on December 28, 2022, initially running from Uttara to Agargaon. Later expansions included the Agargaon to Motijheel section, inaugurated on November 4 last year, enabling metro rail service from Uttara to Motijheel since November 5.
National
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The Ministry of Education confirmed the appointment through an official notification issued on Sunday (23 November), signed by Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on behalf of the President.
The notice states that, with the approval of the Honorable President and Chancellor, Professor Rahman will serve a four-year term as Vice-Chancellor under Section 31(1) of the Private University Act, 2010. He will receive all salary, allowances, and benefits as determined by the university, and his duties will commence immediately in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Professor Rahman has an outstanding academic background. He secured First Class First in his Honors degree from the University of Dhaka’s Marketing Department, achieving record-breaking marks. He completed his MBA with dual majors in Finance and Marketing at Dalhousie University in Canada, graduating in the top 1% of his class. He later earned his Master’s degree (First Class Second) and PhD from the same department at the University of Dhaka.
During his illustrious 35-year career, he has served as Chairman of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka for three years and was elected to both the Syndicate and Senate of the university. He also served as Dean at Daffodil International University and has taught as an adjunct professor at North South University, BRAC University, and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).
Professor Rahman has an extensive body of research, with over 35 publications, including four international papers and three research monographs. Several MPhil and PhD scholars have completed their degrees under his supervision. He also served for many years as Vice President of the Dhaka University Marketing Alumni Association.
Outside academia, he has contributed significantly to the corporate sector and educational governance. He has worked as an independent director and strategic adviser to various reputed organizations and has served on the governing bodies of several well-known colleges in Dhaka. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the North South Society.
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.
