Dhaka MRT Line 6 ticket, pass, and timetable guide

This guide is for travelers using Dhaka Metro Rail MRT Line 6 for hotel transfers, business visits, or a short city hop between Uttara, Mirpur, Farmgate, Shahbag, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel. The main decision is whether to buy a Single Journey Ticket for one ride or set up an MRT Pass or Rapid Pass for repeated rides.

The constraint is timing. DMTCL publishes different service windows for regular weekdays, Saturdays and government holidays, and Fridays, and the ticket machines do not stay open as late as the final trains. Check the official timetable on the day you ride, then choose the ticket type that matches how many station entries you will make.

What to know first

• MRT Line 6 currently runs between Uttara North and Motijheel, with DMTCL listing 16 stations on the official route map.
• DMTCL's Line 6 FAQ describes the Uttara North to Motijheel section as about 20.10 km and identifies it as Bangladesh's first metro rail service.
• The ticket choices that matter to visitors are Single Journey Ticket, MRT Pass, and compatible Rapid Pass.
• An MRT Pass is useful for repeated rides: DMTCL lists an initial cash price of BDT 500, including a BDT 200 deposit and BDT 300 usable balance.
• DMTCL lists a 10% fare discount for MRT Pass travel, a 10-year pass validity, and a maximum top-up balance of BDT 10,000.
• Friday service starts in the afternoon, so do not plan a Friday morning metro transfer unless the current DMTCL timetable has changed.

Source: Wikimedia Commons photo by Serajus Salekin Himel, CC BY-SA 4.0, showing Uttara Center metro station.

Choose between Single Journey Ticket and MRT Pass

Use a Single Journey Ticket when you need one simple ride and do not expect to return through the metro gate later that day. It keeps the setup light, and every station has ticket vending machines or ticket office support. This is the easiest choice if you are trying the metro once between a hotel and a central stop.

Use an MRT Pass when you will make several rides, return on the same route, or travel on more than one day. DMTCL says the pass is bought from an Excess Fare Office with the required registration form and an initial BDT 500 cash payment. That payment is split into a BDT 200 security deposit and BDT 300 usable balance.

The pass saves time because you touch the gate instead of buying a fresh ticket for every entry. DMTCL also lists a 10% discount on MRT Pass travel, a 10-year validity period, and top-up at Ticket Vending Machines or the Excess Fare Office. The official maximum stored balance is BDT 10,000.

Rapid Pass holders should still check the current DMTCL notice before relying on the card. DMTCL's FAQ says Rapid Pass cardholders can receive metro service, and the site also describes MRT Pass compatibility with Rapid Pass. Treat that as a current-operations check, not as a reason to skip the official card and balance rules.

Read the timetable before a late ride

DMTCL's current timetable page separates service by day type. On ordinary weekdays, the page lists Uttara North to Motijheel service from 06:30 to 21:30 and Motijheel to Uttara North service from 07:15 to 22:10. Saturday and government-holiday service uses the same terminal first and last train windows on the current page, with different headways.

Friday is different. The latest DMTCL timetable available during this source check lists afternoon starts: Uttara North toward Motijheel begins at 15:00, while Motijheel toward Uttara North begins at 15:20. The Friday evening windows and headways are also different from the weekday pattern.

Ticket timing is a separate risk. DMTCL's timetable notes that, except on Friday, Single Journey Tickets and pass top-ups are available at stations from 06:40 to 21:20. On Friday, Single Journey Ticket sales start at 14:45 from Uttara North and 15:05 from Motijheel, and the Friday sale window ends earlier. The page also says all ticket offices and ticket vending machines close after 21:20.

For a late ride, work backward from the ticket-sale cutoff, not only from the final train. A passenger who already has a topped-up pass has more flexibility than a passenger who still needs to buy a Single Journey Ticket.

Plan the route by the station sequence

The official Line 6 route map lists the stations in this order: Uttara North, Uttara Center, Uttara South, Pallabi, Mirpur 11, Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel.

Use that sequence to plan your stop before you enter the paid area. Dhaka traffic and pedestrian access can make the last five minutes of a trip slower than the train ride, so match your station to your actual destination rather than only to the name you know. For old Dhaka, university, and office visits, Shahbag, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel are different choices, not interchangeable stops.

Do not rely on maps that show future extensions as if they were already operating. During this source check, DMTCL's official passenger route map for Line 6 still lists the current 16-station Uttara North to Motijheel chain. If Kamalapur or another extension appears in a third-party app, confirm it against DMTCL before routing a same-day transfer.

Use the gates and paid area carefully

For a Single Journey Ticket, buy the ticket for the correct origin and destination and keep it until you exit. For a pass, touch in at entry and touch out at exit so the fare can be calculated properly. If the gate rejects the card, go to the Excess Fare Office instead of trying repeated taps during a busy queue.

One pass should be treated as one passenger's travel media for each entry. Families and groups should not plan on sharing a single pass through the gate sequence. If several people are traveling together for only one ride, Single Journey Tickets may be simpler than registering and topping up multiple passes.

The route is elevated and stations can involve stairs, lifts, escalators, concourses, and street-level approaches. Build in time for access, especially at busy stations such as Mirpur 10, Farmgate, Shahbag, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel. The cleanest metro plan can still fail if you reach the wrong side of a major road without enough time.

Discounts, exceptions, and pass problems

DMTCL's Citizen Charter lists several exceptions that may matter to some travelers. Children under three feet in height can travel free with a guardian. War-wounded freedom fighters can travel free with a valid identity document. MRT Pass travel receives the listed 10% discount, while special categories and ticket rules should be checked on the official page before relying on them.

The MRT Pass is not only a fare product; it is also a registered travel card. DMTCL describes purchase through the Excess Fare Office with the registration form, a cash initial value, and top-up through TVM or EFO. If you lose a pass, damage it, or need a refund, the official rule can depend on whether the pass is registered and usable, so handle that at the station office.

For short-stay visitors, the practical question is whether the pass benefit is worth the setup. If you will ride twice in one day and leave Dhaka, Single Journey Tickets may be enough. If you are in Dhaka for several days, or if you will cross Line 6 during office traffic more than once, the pass usually gives a smoother gate experience.

Common mistakes

• Planning a Friday morning ride without checking the official Friday timetable.
• Looking only at the final train time and forgetting that Single Journey Ticket sales and top-ups have their own cutoff.
• Buying an MRT Pass for a single short experiment when Single Journey Tickets would be easier.
• Reading an old or third-party route map and assuming future extensions are already open.
• Choosing a station by name rather than by street access, pedestrian route, and final destination.
• Arriving with no buffer at a busy station, then losing the advantage of the metro during the ticket or gate process.

Who should choose which option

Choose a Single Journey Ticket if you are a first-time visitor making one direct ride, if you do not want to register a card, or if every member of your group only needs one separate trip. This is also the low-commitment choice when you are unsure whether your return route will use metro, bus, rideshare, or walking.

Choose an MRT Pass if you expect repeated entries, if you are staying near a Line 6 station, or if you want to avoid the ticket queue during commuting hours. The pass becomes more useful when you can top it up in advance and keep enough balance for the day instead of solving the fare at every station.

Use a Rapid Pass only after confirming the current DMTCL guidance and your balance. If the card is accepted, it can simplify travel. If it is not ready, if the balance is low, or if the gate creates an issue, the Excess Fare Office is the place to resolve it.

What to check before you go

• Recheck the DMTCL timetable page on the same day, especially before Friday, a public holiday, Ramadan, or an election or special event.
• Check whether you need one ride, a same-day return, or several days of travel before choosing Single Journey Ticket or pass.
• If buying an MRT Pass, prepare for the registration form and the listed BDT 500 initial cash payment.
• Top up early if you will ride late, because ticket offices and vending machines can close before the last train window.
• Use the official 16-station sequence when choosing between neighboring central stations.
• Keep enough time for station access, security flow, ticket purchase, gates, and the walk from the exit to your actual destination.

Sources

• DMTCL metro rail operating timetable
• DMTCL MRT Line 6 frequently asked questions
• DMTCL MRT Line 6 route map
• DMTCL Citizen Charter for MRT Pass and ticket services
• Wikimedia Commons image page