Dhaka Metro services disrupted for 20 minutes after 'bag falls on track'

Officials say one of their drivers’ key duties is to monitor the tracks, and trains are immediately stopped if anything is spotted

File photo

Train services on the metro line were suspended for 20 minutes after a bag was found on the track between Secretariat and Motijheel stations.

Md Ahsan Ullah, deputy project director (Public Relations) of Dhaka Metro Rail, said the service resumed once the bag was removed.

Operations had been halted from 3:44pm to 4:04pm on Tuesday.

Earlier, train movement was briefly interrupted on Saturday night for nine minutes when a drone landed on the tracks.

Metro rail authorities were unable to determine where the bag had fallen from. Some officials speculated it may have dropped from a nearby high-rise building.

Asked about the source, Ahsan told bdnews24.com: “We do not yet know the full details. An internal investigation will reveal more. One of our drivers’ key responsibilities is to look out for any objects ahead, as it could be a bag or something else.

“When the driver saw the bag on the track, he immediately stopped the train. Service resumed once it was removed.”

The metro authority apologised to passengers for the temporary disruption.