Lawmaker Proposes Extending Dhaka Metro Rail Network to Narayanganj to Ease Congestion and Boost Industry

Member of Parliament for Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj), Golam Dastagir Gazi, has formally requested the inclusion of Narayanganj in the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project to alleviate traffic congestion and bolster the regional economy. Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu submitted an official semi-government letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 22, urging a reassessment of the current transit master plan.

Following the submission, the Prime Minister’s Office directed the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division on July 30 to process the request according to established regulations. The proposal advocates for extending the MRT line from Dhaka to Narayanganj, citing the necessity of reducing transit times for the estimated 400,000 commuters who travel between the two cities daily for work, education, and medical services.

Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, who also serves as the president of the Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry and joint convener of the district BNP, emphasized the industrial significance of the region. He noted that Narayanganj hosts over 7,500 industrial units and accounts for 55 percent of the nation’s knitwear production. The proposal argues that integrating the city into the rail network would stimulate tourism in historical sites such as Panam City, attract foreign investment, and support the expansion of environmentally friendly industries.

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The proposal highlights that initial master planning for an integrated transit system once included six districts: Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, and Narsingdi. The original design logically incorporated key stops at Signboard, Bhuiyagarh, Jalkuri, Shibu Market, and Chashara, ending at the Narayanganj Bus Terminal. However, recent adjustments to the route have excluded the city, sparking concerns among residents that they will be deprived of essential transport modernization.

In his correspondence, the lawmaker requested immediate intervention to reinstate the Narayanganj connection, labeling the expansion as a vital step for the development of the industrial hub. Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan expressed optimism that the government would prioritize the inclusion, asserting that the project is essential for the long-term socioeconomic progress of the district.