An independent safety audit of Dhaka’s MRT Line-6 has identified a series of structural and design-related concerns, while also noting that the country’s first metro rail service has been operating without formal safety certification since its launch.
The audit, commissioned by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) in December last year, was initiated following two separate bearing-pad failures along the 20.1-kilometre elevated metro corridor connecting Uttara and Motijheel. One of the incidents, which occurred on 26 October, resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
Following the fatal accident, the High Court directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the entire metro corridor and submit a detailed report outlining any potential safety risks associated with the system.
A high-level expert committee, led by former Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology vice-chancellor Professor Mohammad Jahangir Alam, carried out the inspection. The team spent nearly five months examining key components of the metro system, including infrastructure, power supply, signalling and train control systems, rolling stock, and operational and maintenance procedures.
Although the report has been submitted to DMTCL, its findings have not been publicly disclosed due to court directives.
DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Shaugatul Alam said the sealed report has already been forwarded to the Road Transport and Highways Division for submission to the High Court.
Sources familiar with the audit said the committee recommended obtaining safety accreditation from an internationally recognised agency to ensure safe operation of MRT Line-6. Similar recommendations had previously been made by an inquiry committee formed after the October 2025 accident.
The audit reportedly found displacement of bearing pads at multiple locations beyond the two previously identified sites. Investigators also noted that protective brackets installed after an earlier bearing-pad failure were not adequately designed to prevent future movement.
The report further emphasised the need to strengthen DMTCL’s institutional capacity through the recruitment of skilled personnel and the establishment of a formal accreditation framework. According to the committee, local expertise alone remains insufficient for comprehensive safety inspections and oversight of metro rail operations.
The findings come as Bangladesh continues to expand its urban rail network, highlighting the importance of robust safety standards and independent certification mechanisms for future metro projects.
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