Experts blame poor oversight, design flaws for metro rail bearing pad accident

Experts have sharply criticised the Dhaka Metro Rail authorities for "repeated and reckless negligence", saying the fatal collapse of a bearing pad in Farmgate today (26 October) exposes deep-rooted flaws in the project's design, supervision, and accountability — a systemic failure they warn could have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.

Speaking to The Business Standard, they said design flaws, weak monitoring, and poor consultancy are to blame for the recurring safety failures.

'Investigation by those responsible hides real faults'

Prof Md Hadiuzzaman, a civil engineering teacher at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and a director on the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) board, said today's accident was similar to the one that occurred last year — both likely caused by design errors.

He said, "The metro authorities should have conducted a full audit of the corridor after last year's incident, including an assessment of the design and the quality of the bearing pads."

"Random testing should have been done to verify whether the pads were suitable for the locations where they were used."

He criticised the way investigation committees are formed, saying, "Those responsible for supervision and project development are the same people conducting the investigation. As a result, the real causes and flaws never come to light."

Pedestrian killed as metro’s load-bearing pad strikes again at Farmgate

Hadiuzzaman also explained that the Farmgate section contains several curves where bearing pads were installed without adequate support. "When trains pass, the resulting vibrations can cause the pads to dislodge. If three or four pads shift simultaneously, it could lead to a major accident, even endangering the metro train itself," he warned.

He further suggested using pot bridge bearings instead of the current type. "These bearings are less likely to dislocate and should be regularly monitored. Bearing pads have a service life — once that expires, they must be replaced."

'Consultants must be held accountable'

Talking to TBS, Md Shamsul Hoque, another professor of civil engineering at Buet, also blamed the consultants for the fatal accident, calling it a reflection of negligence in construction and supervision.

"This incident proves we are paying for quality consultancy but not getting it," he said. "If a spring or bearing pad falls off, that's a clear construction failure. If non-specified materials were used, the infrastructure won't last as intended — that's another risk."

He added, "The issue isn't just about material quality. What's more concerning is that the components are falling off — and it has happened twice now. This raises questions about quality control across the entire metro rail system."

"I hold the consultants primarily responsible," Shamsul continued. "Contractors are often opportunistic — they try to cut corners. It's the consultant's duty to ensure proper construction methods and safety standards are followed."

Citing the involvement of Japanese consultants, he said, "We [Bangladesh] hired experienced Japanese professionals for their expertise, paying them significantly. But they failed to ensure quality — they must now take responsibility."

He urged the government to immediately conduct a comprehensive safety audit at the consultants' expense. "We paid heavily both for construction and consultancy but didn't get a safe infrastructure. The consultants are fully responsible, and DMTCL shares partial blame for not overseeing the work properly," he said.

"In my experience, Japanese consultants often charge inflated fees but don't send adequately skilled personnel. We saw the same issue in the third terminal project of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport," he added.

Shamsul recommended introducing a competitive process for future consultancy contracts and including consultants' accountability clauses in the agreement through the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

"In other countries, funding agencies ensure competent technical consultants. Here, unfortunately, non-technical people are often running the show," he said.