Although authorities have clearly mentioned the restriction on consuming food inside the Dhaka Metro Rail coaches, some food enthusiasts have recently posted food review video content on their social media sites.
Another traveller spotted a beggar inside one of the coaches and captured a video of the incident, which went viral on social media.
As per guidelines, passengers are not allowed to carry their pets on metro rails, and they are also prohibited from having dangerous items, pecking or spitting on the premises or coaches, consuming food items, littering, playing loud music, smoking, and carrying heavy luggage.
Besides, the metro rail authorities have requested that the passengers help the security personnel carry out their duties in keeping the establishment safe.
This reporter contacted Sajedul Islam Sifat who posted the video of a beggar asking metro rail passengers for money on Facebook on July 23.
The video, titled “Metrorail's first beggar,” was captured between Pallabi and Uttara North station, the young man told the reporter.
Besides capturing the video, he informed security personnel present at the Uttara north station of the matter. Sifat said the beggar was later apprehended.
On July 22, a passenger named Uddin Kaleem Mohammad Sharafi shared a photo of a coffee mug lying on a seat in one of the coaches of the metro rail.
Besides, on July 12, a Facebook user named Abrar Alam Mollah gave a food review in a “Food Bank” group with a picture of a burger taken inside a coach. Other users shared posts that were similar in the same group.
Asked about these incidents, Mohammad Abdur Rauf, secretary of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), said: “Begging is prohibited inside the metro rail. But everyone gets inside by buying a ticket. Then, if they go begging in the metro rail, if you inform the law enforcement officers in charge at the station, they will immediately take action. Cameras are installed in every compartment of metro rail, if someone breaks the rules, they can be identified.”
Regarding the food vlogging, he said: “If someone carries food inside a bag and eats it on the train and posts it on Facebook to show off, it is also wrong. Eating food is strictly prohibited in our metro stations and trains. Passengers also have to play a conscious role in following these rules and regulations.”
He said that in order to prevent such incidents in the future, the DMTCL has already formed its own police unit.