DMTCL Blames Contractor, Not Bearing Pad, for Metro Rail Death
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has claimed that the bearing pad was not at fault in the tragic incident that killed pedestrian Abul Kalam after a pad fell from a metro rail pillar near the Farmgate station on October 26.
At a press conference held on Monday, November 3, at DMTCL’s headquarters in Uttara Diabari, Managing Director Md. Farooq Ahmed clarified that the bearing pad itself was not defective.
“The fault does not lie with the bearing,” he stated. “The question is whether it was installed properly or not. Those who were responsible for inspecting and certifying the installation—did they perform their duties? These issues must now be examined. And for any construction-related defect, the contractor must take full responsibility.”
Safety Audit to Be Conducted by European Firms
Farooq Ahmed revealed that no safety audit had been conducted before the metro rail’s inauguration. “Therefore, we now want to carry out a safety audit. We will do it as soon as possible, through a third party. It will be done by a European firm. Two French companies have already applied. We will soon proceed to the tendering process,” he said.
He added that the bearing pad did not “fall suddenly.” According to him, “This is not something that falls off all of a sudden. Since an investigation is ongoing, I do not want to make a judgmental statement. But what might have happened is either a design fault, a missing component that was supposed to be installed, or improper execution by the contractor. The consultant responsible for acceptance may also have failed in their duties. Any of these four factors—or a combination—could be the reason.”
Consultant and Contractor Accountability
The DMTCL MD informed that foreign consultants, hired at a cost of several thousand crore taka, were responsible for acceptance of the works. “First, the consultant accepts the work from the contractor. It is the consultant’s responsibility to hand it over to us. At that time, some parts of the work were hurried. Why it happened, I cannot say. The area where the accident occurred still has many defects, which is why we have not yet accepted that section,” he explained.
Farooq Ahmed further mentioned that the defect liability period for the section where the bearing pad fell had expired in June. “However, DMTCL did not accept that liability period because many major defects still remain. All such issues must be repaired by the contractor. For that reason, we have asked them to extend the defect liability period by two more years,” he said.
Inspection of All Pillars Completed
Following the accident, DMTCL conducted a complete inspection of all metro rail pillars. “Before this, we had captured images of all bearing pads along the route using drone cameras. Afterwards, our officers inspected them on site. Wherever defects have been identified, the consultant firm has been notified. The final decision of DMTCL is that wherever defects or problems are found, the bearing pads must be replaced,” said the Managing Director.
Permanent Support for the Victim’s Family
Regarding compensation for the deceased pedestrian’s family, Farooq Ahmed said, “We immediately reached out to the victim’s family ourselves. From taking him to the hospital to conducting the funeral prayers, everything was jointly managed by DMTCL and the Ministry. In addition, the Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan provided Tk 5 lakh as immediate assistance. However, this was not the value of a life—it was a temporary aid.”
He further stated, “We did not stop at temporary help. We are working on how to provide permanent support to his family. Last week, I met the wife of the deceased Abul Kalam. Based on her educational qualifications, we have arranged a job for her. Once she submits her certificates and national ID, the employment will be made effective.”
