Drone lands on Dhaka metro rail line, halting service temporarily

Operations on Dhaka’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 6 were briefly suspended on Saturday morning after a drone landed on the elevated track between Uttara Centre and Uttara South stations.

The incident caused a temporary disruption to the city’s popular public transport system.

However, normal service resumed shortly after authorities removed the device, according to a statement posted by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) on its official Facebook page.

“Due to a drone landing on the metro rail line between Uttara Centre and Uttara South, train services were temporarily affected,” the post read. “Operations have since returned to normal. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our passengers.”

This unusual occurrence comes just a day after a more alarming security incident on the same metro line.

On Friday, November 21, two improvised explosive devices – described as “cocktails” wrapped in Scotch tape and placed inside a cardboard box – were discovered on the track above pillars 288 and 289 between Kazipara and Shewrapara in Mirpur.

Maintenance staff first spotted the suspicious items and immediately alerted authorities.

The Bomb Disposal Unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) responded swiftly and safely removed the devices. No damage was reported to the infrastructure, and no injuries occurred.

MRT Police Inspector (Investigation) Sohel Chowdhury confirmed the details of Friday’s incident, emphasising that the devices had not detonated.

The twin episodes have raised concerns about security vulnerabilities along the metro corridor, prompting calls for enhanced surveillance and protective measures.