Dhaka Metro Rail Introduces Online Recharge Service for Passengers

Dhaka Metro Rail passengers will no longer need to visit station counters for recharging their permanent cards. Starting from 25 November, users can recharge their Rapid Pass and MRT Pass cards directly from home via an online service. This new system will support multiple payment methods, including credit cards, bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and all major online banking platforms.

The service will be inaugurated by Sheikh Moinuddin, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Bridges. Both the Rapid Pass, issued by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), and the MRT Pass, issued by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), will be rechargeable through online banking. After recharging, passengers must verify their balance at a station by tapping their card on an Add Value Machine (AVM).

Initially, recharges will be available through a link on the DTCA website, with a dedicated mobile app expected to launch next month, allowing users to recharge directly from their smartphones. DTCA Executive Director Nilima Akhter highlighted that the new system will reduce station queues, save time, and improve the overall convenience for passengers.

The initiative is being supported by DataSoft, a private technology firm, and is seen as a major step toward enhancing the urban mobility experience in Dhaka, which currently sees an average of nearly 500,000 metro passengers daily.