National
Dhaka Metro Extends Operating Hours
In a significant move to improve late-night transportation accessibility, the Dhaka Metro Rail has announced an extension of its operating hours. As of today, the service will run an additional hour beyond its previous closing time, concluding at 9:40 pm.
MAN Siddique, the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), clarified that this decision is in direct response to the growing public demand for extended metro service hours. The announcement, made on March 25, signifies a crucial shift in the metro’s schedule to better serve late-evening commuters.
Under the new timetable, the last train from the Motijheel station will depart at 9:40 pm, while the final departure from the Uttara terminal is scheduled for 9:20 pm. This adjustment will introduce trains departing every 12 minutes during the additional service hour, adding 10 trains to the daily rotation.
With this extension, the total number of daily metro trips will increase from 184 to 194, demonstrating DMTCL’s dedication to enhancing public transportation accessibility and convenience.
Prior to this modification, Dhaka Metro Rail’s operating hours were from 7 am to 8:40 pm. During peak hours, trains ran every 8 minutes—from 7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm—while during off-peak periods, between 11 am and 2:30 pm, the frequency was every 12 minutes. This schedule adjustment is expected to greatly benefit metro users in Dhaka by offering more flexible travel options in the evening.
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.
