TDS Desk:

A government investigation has revealed that extensive damage caused by vandalism at two Dhaka Metro rail stations during the recent Anti-Discrimination Student Protests has resulted in losses amounting to Tk138 crore.

The findings are set to be presented at a meeting of the advisory council Thursday.

The investigation report, which details the damage to the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations, will be submitted during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office.

In addition to the metro rail report, the meeting will discuss and potentially approve a proposal for a double taxation agreement between Bangladesh and Qatar.

On 18 July, during the “Complete Shutdown” called by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, protestors set fire to the police box at the Mirpur-10 roundabout. A metro train was passing overhead at the time of the incident, leading to the suspension of metro services.

On the evening of 19 July, further vandalism occurred at both the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations.

In response to the destruction, the government formed a committee on 22 July, led by Md Zakaria, additional project director of MRT (Line-6), to assess the extent of the damage.

Speaking Zakaria said the investigation committee made three key observations and provided recommendations on how to reopen the Kazipara station swiftly.

On the other hand, Mohammad Abdur Rouf, the managing director (current charge) of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, told that the report has been submitted to the Road Transport and Highways Division for review.

Kazipara station expected to reopen this month

Zakaria said that although both stations sustained significant damage, metro services can still operate with the stations closed. The investigation team suggested using equipment from the Mirpur-10 station and the training centre in Uttara’s Diabari to expedite the reopening of Kazipara station.

“We have documented the damage with photographs and detailed reports,” Zakaria added. “We estimate that Kazipara station could reopen by the end of September, though restoring Mirpur-10 station will take time.”

Sources from the investigation committee said the control rooms of both Kazipara and Mirpur-10 stations were destroyed, and most of the CCTV cameras at these locations were damaged beyond repair