For Irene Akhtar Pia, life has taken a cruel turn. Her husband, Abul Kalam Azad, lost his life in a shocking Metro Rail accident — and now, the path to financial security for her family comes at the cost of that very life.

On Sunday (26 October), around noon, a bearing pad from Metro Rail pillar number 433 suddenly dislodged and fell in the bustling Farmgate area, killing Abul Kalam instantly. The tragic accident shook Dhaka, highlighting the risks lurking beneath the city’s much-celebrated infrastructure projects.

In the aftermath, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) confirmed a measure of support for the bereaved family. 

Managing Director Faruk Ahmed told a TV channel that Irene Akter Pia would be offered a position as a computer operator. “Once she completes her honours degree, she will be considered for an officer-level post,” he said.

On the same day as the tragedy, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport, Bridges and Railways, announced compensation of Tk 500,000 for the family and assured employment for another family member in the Metro Rail.

Yet, the grief remains unquantifiable, and the legal battle has just begun. A notice demanding Tk 10 crore in compensation has been served to the Ministry of Bridges, its Secretary/Senior Secretary, and DMTCL’s Managing Director. 

The notice, sent via post on Tuesday (28 October) by lawyer Enamul Haque Nabin of Dhaka Judge Court, stipulates that the family must receive the amount and secure a permanent job for a family member within 30 days, or face legal consequences.

The story of Abul Kalam and his family is a stark reminder that progress often casts a shadow. For every modern pillar that rises in Dhaka, there is a human cost that can never truly be measured. For Irene Akter Pia, the opportunity at the Metro Rail comes not as a celebration, but as a bittersweet lifeline — one bought at the ultimate price.