Dhaka city dwellers, especially office-goers, suffered immensely due to scarcity of public transport yesterday as bus owners began implementing the government directives to keep half the seats vacant.

With most of the offices, companies and factories operating in full swing, the government's decision to halve passenger capacity of public transport could not be executed properly.

In the morning, many passengers failed to get into buses as those were half full. But later in the day, buses, even government-run BRTC ones, were seen plying more than half full. Despite the 60 percent bus fare hiked implemented from yesterday, some people alleged overcharging.

Commuters were going through the similar problems while returning home in the evening.   

Meanwhile, like bus service, fare of launch service is also going to be increased amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which already hit hard the earnings of most of the people. 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday proposed 60 percent hike in launch fare on condition that they will carry half the passengers of their capacities and maintain health safety guidelines.

The shipping ministry is expected to make the decision to this end by today, officials said.

The government on Monday issued the new directives for two weeks to curb the fresh and sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.

As per the directives, issued by the Prime Minister's Office, public transport cannot carry passengers over 50 percent of the capacity. Inter-district transport has to be limited to areas with higher infections and has to be suspended if necessary, the directives said.

Following the directives, the authorities concerned have imposed restrictions on carrying passengers in buses, trains and launches.

PEOPLE'S SUFFERINGS

Commuters, especially office-goers in Dhaka and adjacent areas, faced difficulties since morning as public transport started operating at 50 percent occupancy.

Long queues were seen at bus stops in different parts of the capital, including Mirpur, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Shyamoli, Banglamotor, Topkhana Road, Asadgate, Farmgate and even in Savar.

Many were seen walking to their destinations, as bus staffers were saying no seats were available. Using megaphones, transport workers were asking passengers to wear masks and maintain other health guidelines.

Half the seats were kept empty on a bus yesterday in line with the new coronavirus restrictions. Photo: Anisur Rahman

But in many buses, passengers were seen sitting side by side, posing risk of coronavirus infection. Some of the buses were also seen plying with over 50 percent passengers.

Sabur Mia, conductor of Vision Paribahan operating on Dhaka Zoo to Motijheel route, said they tried to follow the government directives to carry half passengers of their capacities.

"But many forcibly got into the bus ... . We faced this problem severely between 9:00am and 11:00am," he told The Daily Star.

"Many passengers, who boarded bus first, asked me not to allow anymore passengers as they paid the increased fare. On the other hand, passengers who could not avail the bus forced us to allow them in," he explained.

Munshi Sabbir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Khilkhet Police Station, said hundreds of commuters gathered at Khilkhet bus stop yesterday like any other days.

But as no buses were taking passengers from there as they have already taken passengers half their capacities from Uttara areas, commuters demonstrated there.

In this situation, police had to intervene to control the situation, he added.

Later, some buses took passengers over 50 percent of their capacities and the situation returned to normalcy around 11:00am, locals said.

This correspondent observed bus services at Farmgate bus stop, one of the busiest stops in the city, for half an hour from 3:00pm and found most of the buses were carrying passengers over the 50 percent capacity.

Many BRTC buses were even running with standing passengers.

When this correspondent was taking video of a crowded bus of Ayat Paribahan, at least seven passengers were forced to leave the bus.

Whenever a bus reached the stoppage, many passengers gathered before the bus door, even before the passengers left buses. While some bus staffers were seen asking people not to get into buses, some others were taking passengers beyond their 50 percent capacity.

A middle-aged woman was seen waiting for a bus for more than 20 minutes. When this correspondent approached her, she said after admitting her mother to Combined Military Hospital, she could have reached Farmgate by a Trust bus to go to her Mugda house.

"I am trying to catch a bus of Labbayek Paribahan. I approached three buses, but failed to get into," she said, wishing not be named. Later, she boarded another company bus that would take her near Mugda area.

WHY THE PROBLEM?

According to Monday's directives, all government and private offices, establishments and factories should be managed by 50 percent of their manpower, except for emergency service providers. Pregnant and ill officials or those above 55 should stay at home and steps have to be taken so that they can work from there.

But many of the offices, including government ones, did not implement the directives yet, so their employees have to go to office using public transport. But cutting 50 percent capacity of buses and minibuses causes huge problem in the seating capacity of the public transport.

Many people reached their destinations on foot, while many others take bike and CNG-run auto-rickshaw rides, spending extra money.

Meanwhile, Farhad Hossain, state minister for public administration, said the directives would be implemented fully within a day or two.

Besides, the number of buses was less in the morning, a transport leader told this correspondent.

He said many operators did not run their vehicles on the street, fearing that they may face punishment for not following health safety guidelines properly, he said, asking not to be named.

Contacted, Abdur Razzak, deputy director (enforcement) of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said their mobile courts were on the roads to execute the directives, but on the first day, they mostly motivate people to follow the guidelines.

In another development, the BRTA yesterday banned operation of motorcycles under ride-sharing services to ensure health safety guidelines and social distancing.

A circular was issued in this regard and the directives were sent to the service-providing companies, a BRTA official told The Daily Star.

The ban will be effective until further notice (at least two weeks for now), according to the BRTA order.

Other vehicles operating under ride-sharing services were also asked to follow the government directives, it said.

A total of 23,493 vehicles were enlisted with the BRTA to operate under the ride-sharing service, of which 80 percent are motorcycles, BRTA sources said.

The authorities imposed the ban on motorcycle operation as it is not possible to maintain physical distancing and health safety guidelines while using them, they said. The BRTA took similar steps last year, they added.

LAUNCH FARE TO RISE

The BIWTA yesterday proposed 60 percent hike in launch fare following launch owners' demand as the authorities instructed them not to take over 50 percent passengers of their capacities.

"We have sent the proposal to the shipping ministry and hope to get a directive in this regard within tomorrow [Thursday]," BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq told The Daily Star.

As per the existing rate, launch fare for one kilometre is Tk 1.7 within 100km and Tk 1.4 after 100km. The minimum fare is Tk18.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has directed its officials not to sell tickets of inter-city trains after April 11.

The authorities made the decision as the government's directives to halve train capacity are applicable for two weeks and further decision may be made after the stipulated time. This move was made so that future decision can be implemented properly, an official said.