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Navigating Dhaka’s Transport System: Understanding MRT Pass and RAPID Pass

When traveling in the metro rail, remember this: Many people often wonder which one to choose between RAPID PASS and MRT PASS. Today, we’ll delve into the details of these two cards for you:

Firstly, what is MRT Pass? MRT Pass stands for Near-Field Communication (NFC) based smart IC card. With this card, you can easily pay the fare for Metro Rail (and in the future, for buses, launches, shopping malls operated by Metro Rail, etc.) hassle-free.

Secondly, what is RAPID Pass? RAPID PASS is a state-of-the-art smart card developed by Sony in Japan based on Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. To facilitate unified e-ticketing and fare collection for public transportation in Bangladesh, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority has introduced this smart card or Rapid Pass. It is being implemented in various public transportation services in the country, including Dhaka Metro Rail, Rapid Transit Bus Service, various services of Bangladesh Railway, BIWTC’s water transport service, and both government and private bus services, to enable convenient and seamless payment transactions.

Now you might wonder, how to get an MRT Pass? You can instantly register and purchase an MRT Pass from any Metro Rail station’s Excess Fare Office (or Customer Service Centre) from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The following information will be required for card issuance:

  1. Fill out a registration form with some information. (The registration form can be obtained free of cost from the station mentioned or you can download the MRT Pass Registration Form from the Metro Rail website.)
  2. National ID card of Bangladesh or a clear photocopy of it. The information is sufficient; a copy is not necessary.
  3. Cash of only 500 Taka (including a 200 Taka deposit for the card and the remaining 300 Taka rechargeable balance on the card).

However, remember that with accurate information provided during registration, you can get a card refund, replace a lost card, return your lost card, get a refund of the recharged amount on your lost card, and recharge the lost card’s balance. (It takes a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes to register a card at the station.)

Now, let’s find out how to get a RAPID Pass! Purchase of RAPID Pass: RAPID Pass can be purchased from the following Dutch-Bangla Bank branches/sub-branches:

  1. Sonargaon Janapath Branch, Uttara
  2. Uttara Branch, Uttara
  3. Rabindra Sarani Branch
  4. Pallabi Branch, Mirpur
  5. Mirpur Branch, Mirpur
  6. Mirpur Circle-10 Branch
  7. Ibrahimapur Branch, Cantonment
  8. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Branch, Mirpur
  9. Corporate Branch, Motijheel
  10. Indira Road Branch, Farmgate
  11. Khalpar Upazila Branch, Uttara
  12. Talatola Upazila Branch, Agargaon
  13. Sachibaloy Fast Track, Bangladesh Sachibaloy
  14. Farmgate Upazila Branch, Farmgate
  15. Kaoran Bazar Branch, Kaoran Bazar
  16. Green Road Branch, Panthapath
  17. Elephant Road Branch
  18. Segunbagicha Upazila Branch, Segunbagicha
  19. Bangabandhu Avenue Branch, Gulistan
  20. Motijheel Foreign Trade Branch, Gulistan
  21. Shantinagar Branch, Shantinagar
  22. New Market Branch, New Market
  23. Satmasjid Road Branch, Dhanmondi
  24. Dhanmondi Branch, Mirpur Road
  25. New Eskaton Branch, Eskaton, Moghbazar
  26. Shamoli Branch, Shamoli
  27. Khilgaon Branch, Taltala, Khilgaon
  28. RK Mission Road Upazila Branch, Motijheel
  29. Rampura Branch, Rampura
  30. Bijoy Nagar Branch, Bijoy Nagar
  31. Bashundhara Branch, Bashundhara
  32. Tejgaon Branch, Navisco, Tejgaon
  33. Moghbazar Branch, Moghbazar
  34. Mugda Upazila Branch, Mugda In addition, RAPID Pass can also be purchased from DBBL booths at the Diebhari and Agargaon Metro Rail stations. The initial cost of this Rapid Pass card is only 400 Taka. Among this, 200 Taka is the initial recharge, and the remaining 200 Taka is the value of the card.

Now you may wonder, what are the external differences between RAPID Pass and MRT Pass? Both cards offer almost the same types of facilities from an external perspective, except for the issuing authority.

How many cards can a person issue in total? A person can issue multiple cards if desired. However, it is suggested to have only one card per National ID.

How many people can travel together with one card? One person can travel at a time with one card.

How to use these cards? Show or touch your MRT Pass / Rapid Pass card at the designated spot on the AFC gate (Passenger Gate) at the station entrance or inside the paid zone to enter. (These cards use modern NFC technology, so simply bringing the card within 10 cm of the designated spot on the AFC gate allows the machine to automatically read it. So there is no need to forcefully swipe or tap the card.) The same procedure should be followed when exiting the station.

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