Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Dhaka Metro Rail services will resume within maximum seven day, Interim Government's Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan said on Sunday.
He made the announcement during an introductory meeting with officials at the ministry in the capital Dhaka.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), the operating agency of metro rail, earlier on August 15 said Metro Rail operation will not resume from August 17 (Saturday) as the authorities could not complete necessary technical tests.
The operating agency could not declared any fresh date for resuming the operation.
Operations of metro rail have remained suspended since July 18 after two stations -- Mirpur-10 and Kazipara -- were vandalised during the quota reform protests, which later turned into an uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.
DMTCL, established in 2013, began recruiting staff in 2019 and now employs over 700 individuals trained both domestically and internationally to operate and maintain the city's first metro rail along the Uttara-Motijheel corridor.
The adviser also emphasised that there would be renewed focus on development projects, ensuring that progress was not limited to Dhaka alone but also extends to neglected areas.
He stressed the importance of cost-efficiency in every project, noting that instructions have been given to adhere to budget constraints.
Regarding the procurement process, the adviser indicated that single-source procurement, which had been prevalent, will be discontinued. Instead, there will be a move towards competitive tendering to prevent favouritism and ensure transparency, he added.
Regarding the irregularities in the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the adviser shared his own experience of inconvenience.
He recounted how he had to take a week off to obtain a driving license, criticizing the lengthy process and vowing to address such issues to prevent future harassment for citizens.
BBN/SSR/AD