All public transports, including buses, launches, trains and domestic flights, are set to resume on Thursday following the government’s decision to lift the strict lockdown ahead of Eid-ul-Azha although the Covid-19 transmission in the country shows no signs of slowing down.
People will be allowed to travel from one place to another till the morning of July 23 provided they wear masks and follow health safety rules, said the Cabinet Division on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a huge number of people were seen going out on Wednesday, the last day of a 14-day strict lockdown.
According to the notice issued by the Cabinet Division, people can move from their current place but they will have to refrain from visiting tourist spots, resorts, community centers and recreation venues.
No social distancing is maintained, while many passengers are without masks as they hurry to get on a passenger bus in Farmgate, Dhaka on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneSocial gatherings like wedding ceremonies, post-wedding ceremonies, birthdays and picnic parties, political and religious gatherings are not allowed during this time.
Bus, launch fares 60% higher
All kinds of public transports will resume operating across the country on Thursday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters on Wednesday.
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“But they will strictly follow health safety protocols. Also, public transports will not carry more than 50% of their capacity as fares have been increased by 60%," he said.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury in a briefing said all passenger vessels would operate in the country from Thursday.
With public transport services suspended as a part of tougher Covid-19 restrictions across the country, commuters get on an overflowing pick-up truck to go to their destination, on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in the Rayer Bazar area, Dhaka on Monday, June 28, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneHe also said that the launches and steamers would carry passengers not more than 50% of their capacity and charge 60% more fare.
Both Quader and Khalid hoped that owners and workers' organizations would comply with the government directives to help curb a further spread of Covid-19.
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Quader also warned that legal action would be taken against anyone violating the conditions or charging extra fare from travellers.
Around 57 trains to operate
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said 38 inter-city trains would carry passengers ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
Tickets of inter-city trains will be issued five days in advance of the journey until July 19 via online only.
File photo: A busy scenario at Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station, where people, wearing masks, are gathering to go to their destinations on May 31, 2020 Rajib Dhar/Dhaka TribuneMeanwhile, 19 mail and commuter trains will remain operational. Tickets of these trains will be sold from the box counters of the respective stations.
All the trains will carry passengers half of their capacity.
Meanwhile, 22 inter-city trains will leave Dhaka as per their earlier scheduled time.
Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Md Masud Sarwar said all kinds of preparations had been completed.
Passengers would be allowed to enter the railway station wearing face masks and maintaining social distance, he added.
No plans to increase domestic flights
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is also resuming flights on seven domestic routes from Thursday to July 23 while strictly following health guidelines.
Also Read - Covid-19 death toll in Bangladesh crosses 17,000 mark
Domestic airlines have said they have no plans to increase the number of flights on domestic routes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha amid the pandemic.
Currently three local airways have plans in place to operate flights from Thursday.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate three flights each to Chittagong and Saidpur, two each to Cox's Bazar, Jessore, and Sylhet and one each to Rajshahi and Barisal, according to a statement.
File photo: Passengers disembark a launch amid coronavirus pandemic Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka TribuneUS-Bangla General Manager (Public Relations) Kamrul Islam said the airline would operate five daily flights from Dhaka to Chittagong, two flights to Cox's Bazar, seven to Saidpur, six to Jessore, and four each to Sylhet, Barisal, and Rajshahi.
The NovoAir authorities said in a statement that they would operate six daily flights each to Chittagong, Saidpur and Jessore, four to Barisal, three each to Sylhet and Rajshahi, and two to Cox's Bazar.
Homebound passengers searching for tickets
On Wednesday, homebound passengers were seen trying to buy tickets following the decision to resume public transports.
Also Read - Bangladesh lifts Covid curbs for Eid despite catastrophic surge in infections
Bus counters at the capital's Gabtoli opened on Wednesday and some people were seen collecting tickets for their destination, reports Bangla Tribune.
Similarly, passengers of launch and domestic airlines also contacted ticket counters and travel agencies for tickets ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
Only passengers of trains were trying to collect tickets online as tickets for trains are being sold online only.
However, on the first day, the railway server faced technical problems while issuing tickets, according to media reports.