Buses to ply in 11 cities from today
The government yesterday decided to resume public transport services in all 11 cities in the country from today, barely a couple of days after it imposed the weeklong restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The services will be available in the cities from 6:00am to 6:00pm every day until further directives, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said at a virtual press conference.
The cities are Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, Gazipur, Cumilla and Mymensingh, according to a circular issued by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
Though Quader said they took the decision, considering people's sufferings, sources in the transport sector said the move was made following demands from transport leaders.
The government may also resume intercity bus services in a day or two, mentioned the sources.
Yesterday's development came at a time when the country witnessed the highest number of daily deaths and also infections since the first Covid case was detected in March last year.
Moreover, many city residents continued to disregard the health safety rules even in this critical situation. They did not wear masks, let alone follow social distancing. The weeklong restrictions, imposed on Monday to rein in the surge in Covid cases and deaths, were not enforced strictly in the first two days.
"The latest decision is very frustrating, very unfortunate. We are heading towards a very bad situation," infectious diseases specialist Prof Ridwanur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday.
If the "lockdown" could be enforced properly, it could have helped bring down the infection rate and deaths, but most of the government-imposed restrictions have not been enforced, he noted.
Moreover, the government decided to relax the restrictions on public transport, he added.
"Given the existing situation, the infection rate and deaths would not come down unless something miraculous happens."
The government is giving a "mixed signal" by relaxing the restrictions, and that's why people should not be solely blamed for ignoring the so-called "lockdown", he pointed out.
On Sunday, the Cabinet Division issued an 11-point directive to be followed from 6:00am yesterday to 12:00am on April 11 to contain the spread of the virus in the country. Punitive actions will be taken against violators of the directives.
However, the restrictions are not applicable to offices, employees and transports involved in maintaining law and order, relief distribution, emergency and health services, electricity, water and gas supply, fire service, port activities, and telephone and internet services.
Banks will operate from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Public, private and autonomous offices can facilitate commute of their employees to workplaces, using their own transport on a limited scale. Industrial units and factories can do the same for their workers. Construction works will go on.
Ekushey Boi Mela will also continue from noon to 5:00pm every day.
Amid the restrictions, commuters suffered during the morning rush. Many took rickshaws while others had to fork out extra money to hire auto-rickshaws to go to work. Some had to change vehicles multiple times and even walk to reach their destinations.
WHAT PROMPTED THE MOVE?
Quader, also general secretary of the Awami League, said the government decided to allow public transport, taking into account that many people working in different public and private organisations suffered immensely due to a lack of transport.
Public transports would be allowed to charge the re-fixed fares but they must keep 50 percent seats vacant and follow the health safety guidelines. However, the restrictions on long-route transports would remain in force, he mentioned.
The decision would be valid until further notice, added the minister.
Contacted, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder said they already sent the office order to transport associations and the authorities concerned.
Sources in the transport sector said the relaxation of restrictions on public transport was the outcome of daylong hectic efforts of transport leaders.
They talked to Quader and top officials at his ministry, and also high-ups at the Prime Minister's Office to persuade them to allow operation of public transport, one of the top transport leaders told this newspaper, seeking anonymity.
"Transport workers are suffering immensely due to the lockdown. So, we demanded that public transport be allowed to operate.
"We also demanded relaxation of restrictions on long-haul bus services and hope the services will resume in a day or two," said the transport leader.
Sources in the transport sector also said AL lawmaker Shajahan Khan, the newly elected president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, also talked to Quader and a top official at the PMO.
The Daily Star tried to contact Shajahan over the phone several times last night but couldn't reach him.
SLOPPY ENFORCEMENT
As on Monday, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and rickshaws ruled the city streets yesterday. Most shops in alleys were open throughout the day while some beside the main roads also kept their shutters open.
Even a small number of buses operated in the guise of "staff buses" and charged the passengers extra.
In some places, law enforces were seen asking people to follow the health guidelines. Mobile courts of Dhaka city corporations conducted drives in Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Science Lab areas.
Meanwhile, shop owners and employees in the capital's New Market and nearby areas demonstrated for the third consecutive day yesterday, protesting the government restrictions on running businesses.
Traders staged demonstrations also in Rajshahi, Tangail, Thakurgaon, Faridpur and Noakhali, demanding shops be allowed to remain open.
Our correspondents from at least a dozen districts reported that most of the government-imposed restrictions were not enforced strictly in their areas.
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