public transport
Bus services resume in Bangladesh cities
Bus services resumed in cities across Bangladesh, including capital Dhaka, on Thursday, albeit with a limited number of passengers.
However, inter-district bus services will remain suspended in the country during the lockdown period. The lockdown-related movement restrictions have been imposed by the government to break the chain of Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh.
Also Read: Lockdown to continue until May 16, intra-district public transport services from May 6
A reality check by UNB in Dhaka revealed that several buses left their depots in the morning and were plying on several key stretches of the capital -- Mirpur Road, Begum Rokeya Sarani, Uttara, Banani and Mohakhali, to name a few.
Like buses, other public transport vehicles like microbuses were also seen plying on the capital's roads and carrying passengers, but with 50 percent of their seating capacity.
People were seen using public transport, strictly adhering to all Covid-safety protocols.
Police said they were keeping a strict vigil on all public transport vehicles and taking action against passengers found without masks or flouting social distancing norms.
Traffic inspector Asaduzzaman said, "Bus services have resumed in the city since morning and we are checking each and every bus to ensure that all passengers maintain all Covid-safety protocols."
UNB's Cumilla correspondent reports: Buses left almost all the terminals in the district, including Shashangacha, Jangalia and Chakbazar, early in the morning. And no passengers were allowed to board the bus without masks.
Public transport services were suspended in Bangladesh on April 5, with the government announcing a countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.
However, the government partially resumed the operations of city bus services on April 7 only to suspend the same with the imposition of the countrywide complete lockdown from April 14.
The transport owners' associations have already urged the government to resume bus services in the country and demanded food assistance for all unemployed transport workers across Bangladesh.
Also Read:Covid’s daily death toll in Bangladesh falls to 50
Bus fare increases
The government has increased the bus fares by 60 percent across the country, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on March 30.
On May 31, 2020, the government raised the fares of inter-district (Dhaka, Chittagong and adjoining areas) buses and minibuses by 60 percent in order to compensate vehicle owners carrying 50 percent less passengers to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
Lockdown extended
The government has issued a notification extending the ongoing lockdown till May 16 with six fresh directives alongside the existing ones to contain the spread of Covid-19.
According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, officials of all government, semi-government autonomous and private organisations, banks and financial institutions have been asked to remain at their respective workstations during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Shops and shopping malls will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm, maintaining health guidelines. If any violations are seen, the shopping malls and shops will be closed instantly, says the notification.
Inter-district transport services will remain suspended, while only intra-district transport services will operate adhering to health guidelines from Thursday.
However, launch and train services will remain suspended.
As coronavirus cases have been growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government imposed a ‘loose’ nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread.
Also Read:Officials asked not to leave workstations during Eid holidays
Later, a ‘stricter’ lockdown was declared from April 14 to 21. On April 28, the government again extended the lockdown till May 5, with the country struggling to contain the Covid-19 transmission.
On April 23, the Cabinet Division issued a notification allowing shops and shopping malls to operate from April 25 (10am-5pm) on the condition that they would maintain proper safety protocols.
Police seize four buses for violating lockdown norms in Jashore
Police have seized four passenger buses in Jashore district for allegedly violating lockdown norms.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team intercepted the four buses -- three near Manirampur police station and one from the New Market area in Shyamnagar upazila -- on Tuesday night.
Upon checking, the police team found that several passengers were sitting together and many of them were not wearing masks or adhering to other Covid safety protocols.
Subsequently, the four buses were seized, said Mahbub Kabir, traffic inspector of Jashore. Of the four buses, two buses belonged to ‘Green Bangla Paribahan’.
All the buses were on their way to Dhaka.
Also Read: Govt mulls resuming public transport services
And some 80-90 passengers had boarded the buses, and most were not adhering to Covid safety protocols, police said.
However, the drivers and helpers of the buses have not been arrested, police said.
Public transport services were suspended in Bangladesh on April 5, with the government announcing a countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Also Read: Inter-city bus services resume on day 3 of lockdown
On April 30, 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.
On May 3, the government decided to allow the intra-district public transport services with effect from May 6 after extending the ongoing lockdown till May 16.
The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Transport workers demand resumption of public transport, food assistance
Transport workers on Sunday brought out a procession in the city’s Sayedabad area to press home their 3-point demand including resumption of public transport maintaining health protocols.
The workers under the banner of Dhaka Metropolitan Road Transport Workers Union, brought out the procession in the morning.
Earlier on Saturday, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the Bangladesh government is considering the resumption of public transport services in the country ahead of Eid.
Also read: Govt may resume public transport services before Eid : Quader
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.
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.
Also read: Govt mulls resuming public transport services
The association also demanded food assistance for the unemployed transport workers.
In a statement, the association said that anger is brewing among the owners and workers of public transport vehicles over indefinite suspension of public transport operations.
Govt mulls resuming public transport services
The government is working on a plan to allow the public transport to resume operations once the current lockdown is over, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday.
The minister said this at a views-exchange meeting with the officials of Barishal Road Zone, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
Quader joined the meeting virtually from his official residence.
Also read: Govt allows public transport to operate during lockdown
Bus owners and workers will face toughest action if any bus carries passengers more than 50 percent of its capacity or charges additional fare, the minister warned.
‘Loose’ lockdown causes sufferings to commuters
Bangladesh passed off its second day of the weeklong ‘loose’ lockdown on Tuesday with the daily Covid-19 cases and its fatalities reaching a new high.
But commuters said they suffered a lot on the streets on their way to offices and other destinations, and their way back home for lack of public transport. They had to endure the same sufferings on the first day of the lockdown on Monday.
As government offices and private firms and different factories remained open, office-goers were seen struggling to manage transports in the city to go to their workplaces and return homes. As part of the shutdown, public transports went off the roads.
Many of them were forced to hire rickshaws and auto-rickshaws paying excessive fares while some others reached offices walking on foot.
As the government’s restrictions were not enforced strictly, many city dwellers continued to show apathy to the health safety rules, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
Alongside private cars, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, microbus and CNG-run auto-rickshaws and many ride-sharing services were seen operating in the capital as usual while people moving freely ignoring the risks of Covid-19 transmission.
Also read: Lockdown in Bangladesh enters day 2 amid public apathy
Shopping malls are closed as per the government instruction but shops were seen open in many areas.
Visiting many city areas, the UNB correspondent found shops in lanes and by-lanes open despite the lockdown.
Govt allows public transport to operate during lockdown
The government has decided to allow public transport services to resume operations in city corporation areas from Wednesday as the country passes a weeklong lockdown enforced to curb Coronavirus transmission.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said they would be allowed to operate between 6am and 6pm.
Public transport services will operate in Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensigh city corporation areas.
Also read: Lockdown in Bangladesh enters day 2 amid public apathy
But they will have to leave half the seats empty, the minister said in a press statement.
All long distance public transport services will remain suspended until further instructions from the government.
At the start and end of every trip, all buses must be sanitised, the minister said.
Also read: Experts find lockdown in Bangladesh “unscientific, halfhearted”
Staff and passengers must wear face masks and use hand sanitiser, the Road Transport and Bridge minister added.
Quader warned that taking any extra fare from the passengers than the adjusted one won’t be allowed.
He said this order will be effective from April 7.
Increase use of public transport to reduce air pollution: Minister
Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Tuesday said that increased use of public transport instead of private vehicles can reduce air pollution caused by harmful emissions.
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