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.
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.
