Syed Shemul Parvez :
With the passage of time, it seems that the restrictions imposed by the government to stop rising corona infection are fading away.
On the third day, with the introduction of public transports, many travelled by busses on the city roads on Wednesday.
Even the activities of the traffic police have also increased remarkably.
However, the authorities did not have any strong initiative to comply with the government restrictions imposed to prevent the corona infection.
Earlier, many people were angry at the government decision to close shops, leaving offices and other institutions open.
Long queues of vehicles including public transports were seen on the road. This was a completely normal day where normal busyness was present. Although only private vehicles have been in possession for the last two days, public transport however took control of the city roads again on Wednesday.
Besides vehicles, the number of people presence on the road was similar to any other normal day.
However, in the case of most of the passenger buses, it was seen that half of the seats in public transports were left vacant according to the government order.
Passengers sitting inside the buses have also expressed relief as public transports have been brought back again after two days.
However, many ordinary passengers complained of extra fares as usual.
Meanwhile, there was no initiative to control the free movement of ordinary people to prevent corona infection.
Many have been seen outside the house unnecessarily or unnecessarily. In this case, the people had a mixed reaction to the government restrictions.
But, a mobile court headed by the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner was on the ground to create awareness about wearing masks in the capital’s Chawkbazar and Bangshal area. Executive Magistrate Sheikh Mohammad Mamunur Rashid said the work is being done to raise awareness. One sales representative has also been fined. Visiting many shopping malls, it has been seen that the managers and salesmen of the shopping malls didn’t use masks.
The government expects people to follow hygiene rules, he added.
Although all public transports across the country have been declared closed in the government circular, but public transport has started operating again in all city corporation areas of the country from Wednesday morning following the announcement of the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges. City buses started resume to operation but the number of buses was less on Wednesday. As the number of passengers was few, owners are operating a small number of buses,” said Joint Commissioner (Traffic North) Abu Saleh Sheikh Russel.
Traffic Inspector (Mohakhali) Asaduzzaman said: “Buses have been moving since morning within city corporation areas, but the number of buses and passengers are less. As the government has suspended the ride-sharing services, we are filing cases against those found operating the services.” “We are also monitoring whether people are following health guidelines,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, public transports would be allowed to operate between 6am to 6pm.
Public transport services are operating in Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensigh city corporation areas.
The country enforced a weeklong lockdown across the country from Monday to curb coronavirus transmission.
UNB adds: The movement of city buses resumed on Wednesday, the 3rd day of the 7-day countrywide lockdown, as the government has allowed public transport services in city corporation areas.
However, the movement of city buses in different areas of capital Dhaka was thin due to a small number of passengers.
“City buses started going back into operation on Wednesday morning but the number of buses is low. As the number of passengers is low, owners are operating a little number of buses,” said Joint Commissioner (Traffic North) Abu Saleh Sheikh Russel.
Traffic Inspector (Mohakhali) Asaduzzaman said “Buses have been moving since morning within city corporation areas but the number of buses and passengers are low. As the government has suspended the ride-sharing services, we’re filing cases against those found operating the services.”
“We’re also monitoring whether people are following health guidelines,” he said.
Talking to UNB, Ashrafuzzaman, manager of Alif Paribahan, said: “We’re operating 60 percent buses maintaining health protocols. Usually, 200 vehicles operate on four routes. As the number of passengers is poor and long-haul bus services have been suspended, we’re now operating 60 percent buses.”
But the resumption of bus services has apparently reduced the sufferings of office-goers and commuters in the capital.
Although Covid-19 cases and its fatalities reached a new high on Tuesday people are found largely reluctant about obeying health rules and lockdown restrictions.
However, experts said it will be difficult to contain coronavirus infections and deaths if a strict lockdown is not enforced as the situation is turning worse day by day.
Many patients are moving from one hospital to another for beds or oxygen support as most hospitals are occupied.
Private cars, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, microbus and CNG-run auto-rickshaws and many ride-sharing services were seen plying the streets like the previous two days.
Shopping malls are closed as per the government instruction but shops were seen open in many areas.
The UNB correspondent found shops in lanes and by-lanes open despite the lockdown.
Resumption of transport services
In the wake of the sufferings of commuters, the government on Tuesday decided to allow public transport services to resume operations in city corporation areas from Wednesday during the lockdown.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader came up with the announcement saying public transport services will operate in Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensigh city corporation areas between 6am and 6pm.
But they will have to leave half the seats empty, the minister said in a press statement.
Bangladesh witnessed record-breaking daily Covid-19 fatalities and infections with 66 deaths and 7,213 cases during the past 24 hours till Tuesday morning amid the worsening coronavirus situation.
More than 7,000 new Coronavirus cases were recorded for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
With the new 66 deaths, the coronavirus fatalities rose to 9,384 while the mortality rate dropped slightly to 1.44 percent as it was 1.45 percent on Monday.
