Metro Mandate Magnifies Misery: Dhaka Passengers Protest New Fare Rule
From now on, metro passengers in Dhaka will be charged a Tk 100 fare immediately after entering any station by scanning their cards—even if they do not board a train. Previously, commuters could exit within five minutes of entry without incurring any fare. The new rule, introduced by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), has sparked widespread anger among passengers.
Thousands of users have expressed outrage on a Facebook group named Dhaka Metro Rail Helpline, where a post about the new policy drew strong reactions. One passenger wrote, “This is a useless system. I travel from Karwan Bazar to Motijheel, and on some days, because of rallies, gatherings, or exams, I have to miss two or three trains and leave the station to find another way. What kind of logic is this behind such a system?”
Others complained that the rule is unfair for those who may need to leave suddenly for emergencies or if they fall ill inside the station. Some suggested that if the purpose of the rule is to prevent fare evasion, the authority could at least deduct the minimum fare instead of a flat Tk 100 from all passengers. One frustrated user commented, “Why deduct Tk 100? You can charge the fare for just one station! What about people who escort their elderly parents into the station? When did the authorities become so incompetent? Do they think people enter and exit the same station for fun?”
According to sources, the new rule came into effect on October 20, and notices have been posted at various metro stations. One such notice at Karwan Bazar station on Tuesday evening read: “For the kind attention of valued passengers: Free entry and exit at the same station is no longer allowed. A fare of Tk 100 will be deducted for entry and exit at the same station. By order of—DMTCL Authority.”
A metro station official, requesting anonymity, confirmed to the media that “free entry and exit through the station premises will no longer be permitted. The rule has been in effect since yesterday.”
However, DMTCL Managing Director Faruk Ahmed stated that he was not aware of this new regulation, though he mentioned that the company is currently prioritizing metro rail security.
