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Published : 26 Oct 2025, 07:00 PM
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has formed a five-strong committee to investigate the death of a pedestrian caused by a falling metro rail bearing pad.
On Sunday, the government also announced Tk 500,000 in assistance for the victim’s family.
The committee, headed by Bridges Department Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf, includes technical and engineering experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST).
Other members are ABM Toufique Hasan, professor of mechanical engineering at BUET; Lt Col Jahidul Islam, associate professor of civil engineering at MIST; and Mohammad Abdul Ohab, project director of DMTCL Line-5. Deputy Secretary Asfia Sultana will serve as the committee’s member secretary.
The incident occurred around 12:30pm on Sunday at Khamarbari in Dhaka, when 36-year-old Abul Kalam, hailing from Ishwarkathi village in Naria, Shariatpur, was walking along the footpath in front of the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh beneath the Farmgate metro station.
He died instantly when the heavy bearing pad fell from above. Witnesses said a nearby tea stall was also damaged.
The ministry said it would cover all burial and funeral expenses and, if any family member is unemployed, provide jobs according to their qualifications.
The new committee will also review the investigation report of a previous incident on Sept 18 last year at the same location, when another bearing pad fell, halting metro service for 11 hours.
Elastomeric bearing pads, installed at pier and viaduct junctions to absorb vibration, are made of neoprene or natural rubber. Some contain multiple internal steel layers and are extremely heavy.
