The authorities have decided to run additional metro trains to ensure smooth travel of passengers on election day. The government has declared general holidays on February 11 and 12 to facilitate voters in exercising their franchise. This will be a four-day holiday, including weekly holidays. Metro train services in the capital will remain normal during this period, said Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the metro rail operator.

On Thursday (February 5), DMTCL Managing Director Faruk Ahmed confirmed the matter and said that the metro train will run as per the normal schedule even on holidays. On the election day, additional trains will be run considering the passenger pressure. This will not cause any inconvenience to the passengers.

DMTCL officials said that metro trains will operate on holidays during the election period, just like on working days. However, for security reasons, the gates of stations closest to the polling stations will be temporarily closed. The other gates will remain open for passengers.

To ensure smooth metro train operations during the election period, the leave of officers and employees of DMTCL and all related departments has been cancelled. An office order signed by DMTCL Director (Administration) AKM Khairul Alam said that from February 8, all types of leave (except for special or emergency cases) of officers and employees engaged in all related units including train operations, line operations, maintenance, security activities will be cancelled until further instructions. Unit heads have been instructed to take necessary measures in this regard.

Meanwhile, the government has imposed restrictions on traffic across the country on the occasion of the 13th National Parliament Election and referendum. A notification issued by the Road Transport and Highways Division of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on February 2 said that taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses and trucks will be banned from operating on February 12, the day of the election. The ban will be effective from 12 midnight on February 11 to 12 midnight on February 12.

In addition, stricter restrictions have been imposed on the movement of motorcycles. Motorcycle movement will be completely banned across the country for a total of 72 hours from 12:00 midnight on February 10 to 12:00 midnight on February 13. However, some relaxations have been made in this ban for emergency needs and election-related work.

It is worth noting that the campaigning of candidates for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election will end on February 10. Voting will be held on February 12 from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.