Mobile courts operated by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) fined 1408 buses Tk 57.3 lakh for charging extra fares in Dhaka and Chattogram cities in 30 days until December 8. Nine mobile courts launched drives in Dhaka city while two in Chattogram city against charging extra fares in buses. Among the 1408 buses, 80 are CNG-run vehicles and 1328 are diesel powered buses, Director (Enforcement) of the BRTA Sarwar Alam told UNB. The BRTA started the drives on November 8 against public transports charging more than the government-fixed fares after the increase in diesel prices. Read: Initiatives to discipline capital's public transport underway amid new student protests During the month-long operation, 56 buses were sent to dumping stations for non-payment of fines and not having route permits, he said. Five bus drivers were jailed for reckless driving and obstructing government official from performing duties during the period. Besides, according to the report of the executive magistrates of BRTA's mobile courts, a list of buses (vehicle number, date of occurrence of crime and information including fine) under 25 bus companies has already been sent to Dhaka Metro Regional Transport Committee (RTC) for taking legal actions including cancellation of route permits.

Public transports went off streets and shopping malls remained shut in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh as the government has enforced a strict lockdown ‘on a limited scale’ from Monday in an effort to bring the Covid situation under control. The alarming surge in Covid cases and deaths caused by highly transmittable Delta variant prompted the government to announce the 3-day lockdown ahead of an all out lockdown from July 1. Read:Auto-rickshaw, light vehicles workers demand food, cash support amid 'lockdown' Rickshaws and private vehicles were seen dominating the Dhaka streets on the first day of the lockdown. People including office-goers were seen waiting on roads  for a long time for rickshaws or motorbikes to reach their destinations. Traffic police at different points are stopping vehicles and quizzing drivers and passengers, said traffic inspector of DMP Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali).  The Cabinet Division issued a circular over the fresh lockdown on Sunday. The lockdown will remain in force from 6 am on June 28 to 6am on  July 1, it said. Movement of all modes of public transport except goods-laden vehicles and rickshaws will remain restricted and the members of law enforcement agencies will ensure it through regular patrolling, it said. All shopping malls, markets, recreation centres, resorts, community centers, tourist spots will remain shut. Read: Bangladesh ready to go into ‘strict lockdown’ from Monday Hotels and restaurants will remain open from 8am to 8pm with  online/takeway service. Government and private offices will run with only necessary staff and they will arrange transport for office staff. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the chair on Saturday evening. The repeated lockdowns have become a threat to the livelihoods of many in Bangladesh while disrupting travel and social life. However, experts hope that stricter rules will bring positivity rates and fatalities down as the country is battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control. The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday recommended imposing a "nationwide shutdown" for two weeks considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country. A total of 119 people died in Bangladesh in 24 hours until Sunday morning, the biggest figure since the pandemic hit the country. Read:No lockdown for health sector: Minister During the period, 5,268 more people came out positive with Covid-19 in 24,400 sample tests, said a handout issued by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The country’s daily positivity rate fell to 21.59% Sunday from Saturday’s 22.50%.

The Bangladesh government is considering the resumption of public transport services in the country ahead of Eid, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Saturday (May 01, 2021). Addressing the media at his official residence in the capital, the Minister also urged the transport owners and workers not to resort to protests over the issue. "Be patient," was his message to the aggrieved owners and workers. Also Read: Govt mulls resuming public transport services Public transport services were suspended in Bangladesh on April 5, with the government announcing a countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. On Friday, the transport owners' association urged the government to immediately resume bus services in the country. The association also demanded food assistance for the unemployed transport workers. Also Read: Inter-city bus services resume on day 3 of lockdown In a statement, the association said that anger is brewing among the owners and workers of public transport vehicles over indefinite suspension of operations.

Commuters staged demonstrations after blocking road in the city’s Nilkhet area as they failed to board buses and other public transports after the government’s directive to carry 50 percent passengers in public buses to check Covid transmission. Also read:25-30% bus seats must be kept empty, no standing ... Sabbir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Khilkhet Police Station, said some people staged demonstrations on the road around 9 am halting the movement of some buses as they failed to board buses to reach their destinations. However, traffic movement returned to normal after12 pm. Sufferings of commuters mounted as Bangladesh Road Transport Authority(BRTA) imposed a ban for two weeks on app-based motorcycle ride sharing services following the fresh surge of coronavirus.  Ride sharing bikers also staged demonstrations in the city’s Badda area and in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the government to allow them to operate the service. Also read:Bus services resume as restriction ends; Passengers low A huge number of people were seen waiting for buses since morning in different areas and some of them hired rickshaws and CNG-run autorickshaw to reach their destinations.  In the wake of growing Covid-19 cases, the government asked the operators to carry 50 percent passengers of their capacity to maintain social distancing. It has increased the fares of public transport by 60 percent across the country on March 30. The order will remain in force for the next two weeks. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on March 29 issued an 18-point directive for the next two weeks in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Bangladesh. Also read:Govt increases bus fares by 60 pc

Transport owner and workers in Pabna went on an indefinite strike on Thursday morning protesting the assault on one of their fellows, causing  suffering to commuters.

The Coronavirus pandemic that has been raging since late March has rapidly changed people’s lives across the country.

A mobile court fined 39 people Tk 36,100 for not using mask in different parts of the district.   The mobile court led by Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Shahinuzzaman, said the drive was conducted from Wednesday morning till night in different parts of the district including in the public transports.   The drive was conducted to curb coronavirus transmission and it will continue, he said.   Earlier, a mobile court fined Tk 34,300 to 24 people for violating the health guidelines.   The government has asked all to abide by the health guidelines to prevent spread of the deadly virus.   Bangladesh confirmed its first cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18 but it has been seeing a sharp rise in both new cases and deaths in recent weeks.   The country on Wednesday recorded another spike in coronavirus cases when the health authorities announced detection of 2,695 new patients in the last 24 hours.   During this period, 37 patients died of Covid-19, raising the death toll to 746.   Among the total infection, 11,590 people have so far recovered.

All government, semi-government , autonomous  and private offices resumed on Sunday ending a 66-day general holiday amid spike in coronavirus cases and deaths across the country.

Public transport on river, road and rail routes across the country will resume service from Sunday, even as the coronavirus situation in terms of its penetration across the country and evidence of community-based transmission paint a far bleaker picture today than they did two months ago, around the end of March, when the lockdowns started to be imposed.

Some 59 women fell victim to rape and sexual harassments on public transports in 2019, said Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers’ welfare platform.