Bangladesh commenced first-ever metro service in capital

Bangladesh launched its first metro rail service with Japanese assistance to ease commuting in the capital Dhaka, one of the most congested cities in the world. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the service accompanied by newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador Kiminori Iwama and Ichiguchi Tomohide, the chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which funded the project. Prime Minister Hasina began the Mass-Transit Rail service's inaugural trip by saying, "I appreciate everyone for this accomplishment... This metro line is just another reason for us to be proud. She stated that the metro rail's first phase was launched last week, that the remaining portions would follow soon, and that when all of the metro lines are operational in 2030, "around 5.60 million people would utilise the trains every day." The premier opened a 20-kilometre section of the urban rail project, connecting the capital’s northern zone at Uttara area to Agargaon point, a hub of government offices and hospitals in the middle of the city, for now. Construction was underway to extend the tracks to Motijheel business district in the south, cutting through the city to ease the notorious traffic jams in Dhaka, one of the world’s most densely populated cities.