Syed Shemul Parvez :
The government has imposed new restrictions as the country’s overall corona infection is on the rise. In order to prevent corona expansion, the BRTA has been instructed to carry passengers with equal number of seats in the bus from Saturday(January 15). But it is not being compiled with at all. Indifference to hygiene and wearing of mask has been noticed everywhere. There is even no sign of supervision on the road.
No security measures are seen. Except that most of the buses are carrying passengers beyond capacity.
Meanwhile, the driver-helpers said that they are transporting passengers respecting law.
However, most of the passengers are careless of the health protection policy. Even if there is a mask, it is in their hands, or in pockets. Most helpers and drivers have their masks on their chins.
From Saturday morning till 1 pm in the capital’s, Gulistan, Paltan, Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, and Shyamoli, passengers were treated as done during the other time.
Most transports did not have hand sanitizers or disinfectant spray system.
Most of the buses carry passengers beyond capacity. Some of the passengers have masks on their chins, some in their hands, and some in their pockets.
Earlier, watching the deteniorating Corona situation in the country in the last few days, the government issued a circular on January 11 with 11-point instructions as precautionary measures, which came into effect on January 13.
However, the transport owners said that it was not possible to drive a bus with 50 percent capacity of the previous date.
Therefore, they claimed that they spoke verbally with the Ministry about these demands. The leader of the Road Transport Owners’ Association said that as a result of raising the price of diesel by Tk 15 per liter, the bus fare was increased from 27 to 29 percent on November 8. In this situation, if 50 percent seats are left vacant, the fare will have to be increased again. Passengers will suffer. Therefore, it was proposed to maintain 100 percent capacity .
Meanwhile, the train is on the track as per the government instructions. Due to this, sale of tickets began from Wednesday. From now on, 50 per cent of the limited number of tickets can be purchased online and the rest on the counter, authorities said.
Strict hygiene is being monitored at all the railway stations. No one is allowed to travel without a ticket, and a face mask. In order to prevent the spread of corona, additional passenger carrying has been stopped in launches in greater Barisal. It is to be noted that the Cabinet Division last Monday imposed some restrictions on the transmission of the new type of corona-Omicron. The ban came into effect last Thursday.
