With Bangladesh witnessing a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths, the authorities concerned have imposed restrictions on carrying passengers in buses, trains and launches. Vehicles are going to charge 60 per cent more than the existing fare on the condition that they would run to 50 per cent of their passengers capacities and maintain health safety guidelines. The Bangladesh Railway on Tuesday started selling half the tickets of a train’s capacity. However, it may take a few more days to start operation with 50 per cent passengers as many advance tickets up to April 4 have already been sold.
Launch owners have also been directed to carry 50 per cent passengers on the deck. However, train fares would remain the same. The government on Monday issued the new directives to curb the sharp rise of infection in the country. The directives said inter-district transport has to be limited in areas with higher infections and be suspended if necessary. The government took similar measures last year to contain the spread of the pandemic. But there were allegations against bus and launch owners of operating over 50 per cent capacity at that time.
A special committee led by the chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority made the decision on increase of fare at an emergency meeting when transport owners proposed either giving subsidies or increasing bus fare like before in the light of the new directives. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also said 60 per cent hike in bus fare will come into effect from today on the condition that buses carry 50 per cent passengers and follow the health safety guidelines.
We see the government’s notification is like a wish list and there is no clear indication to impose strict restrictions on people’s movement, while livelihood of day labourers and low-income people becomes uncertain. The government must impose strict regulations, increase Covid testing facilities, hospital-beds and healthcare, make those affordability to the poor and ensure livelihood support for the most deserving people.
