bdnews24.com :
The government plans to allow public transport services to restart on Thursday, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, according to Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader.
“The government is considering resuming public transit services on May 6,” the Awami League leader said on a video-conference call with officials of Mymensingh Road Zone, BRTA and BRTC on Monday.
“But, if that is the case, city service buses will not be allowed to travel to other cities and district service buses will not be allowed to travel from one district to another.”
“Buses will have to be sprayed with disinfectant before leaving, drivers, assistants and passengers will have to follow the health restrictions unerringly and half the seats will be left empty.”
A detailed notice will be issued from the ministry within a couple of days, the minister said.
“A vehicle assigned to a district will only be allowed to operate within that district and cannot, under any circumstances, leave its boundaries. City transport will not be allowed to leave its designated city either.”
That means Dhaka district vehicles, for example, will not be allowed to leave the boundaries of the Dhaka district.
“Half the seats must be kept empty and a new coordinated fare will be charged. No additional fees may be charged,” he said.
It will be mandatory for transport workers and passengers to use masks and hand sanitisers.
“There is no telling when the pandemic could worsen, so everyone must remain on the alert,” Quader said.
“There is no reason to be complacent about the coronavirus. We must learn from our neighbouring country India and maintain social distancing and use masks.”
He also said that the prime minister had instructed harsh measures to be taken against any irregularities with aid distribution.
“The government has sent aid and support for 3.6 million families across the country this Eid under a proposal by the prime minister. Those responsible for distributing it faced allegations of corruption last time and many were punished. Some public representatives even ended up in jail.”
Anybody found to be involved with such activities will be identified as an enemy of the people, he said.
The Awami League leader also took aim at the BNP, saying that though they were “frothing at the mouth regarding corruption, they themselves were the hosts and carriers of the country’s institutional corruption”.
