Staff Reporter :
The government has ordered to suspend bus, train and launch services across the country in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19.
Separate orders were issued by the respective authorities on the matter on Tuesday morning.
All bus services across the country will remain suspended from March 26 (Thursday) to April 4 to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader gave the suspension order in a video message from his office on the Tuesday morning, said a statement.
It said trucks, covered vans, vehicles carrying medicines, fuel, and perishable goods, and emergency services will remain out of the purview of the suspension. No goods-laden vehicles can carry passengers during this time, the statement added.
Bangladesh Railway has suspended all local, commuters, and mail train services across the country.
The services were suspended from March 23 (Monday) midnight and will remain suspended till further notice, Railway’s Director-General Mia Jahan has said.
He said, “Only inter-city and freight trains are functioning right now. Since the tickets of inter-city trains were already sold to passengers, we have not suspended it yet.
“We will suspend the inter-city trains from March 26 across the country, in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus, said Railway Secretary Mofazzal Hossain.
Currently, 257 local, commuter, and mail trains are functioning across Bangladesh, according to him.
The Shipping Ministry has ordered the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to suspend the launch services on all routes across the country until further notice.
“No passenger-carrying launch will be operated from Tuesday,” BIWTA Joint Secretary Arif Hasnat confirmed it on Tuesday .
Vessels carrying goods, however, will remain out of the purview of the suspension.
“All passenger launch services will remain suspended until further notice,” BIWTA Director (Traffic) Md Rafiqul Islam Talukder said.
