Cat on the track: Metro rail operations suspended for over 20 minutes

The unexpected disruption left passengers stranded and queues growing at stations

A cat that suddenly wandered onto a high-voltage track on the Metro Rail line at Shahbagh has forced authorities to suspend train services for just over 20 minutes.

Operations remained halted from 11:50am to 12:12pm on Saturday.

While technical faults or signalling problems have previously disrupted metro rail services, this was the first time the entire network was affected by an animal.

A Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) official said, “Operations were temporarily suspended for passenger safety. The cat was rescued unharmed, and services resumed at 12:12pm.”

The unexpected shutdown caused inconvenience for commuters as queues lengthened at stations.

Many passengers eventually left stations and sought alternative transport.