The government is going to normalize the country's transport system starting from Tuesday, despite the steady growth of coronavirus infections and deaths.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is allowing bus operators to seat their passengers side by side starting from September 1. With this return to normal seating arrangements, bus operators will also go back to taking the previous bus fare.
However, this return to normalcy depends on two conditions set by the government — every passenger must wear a face mask and there will be no standing passengers on any bus.
Khandaker Enayetullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said: “We will go back to the normal mode of passenger transportation from Tuesday.”
“We have already sent letters to all operators asking them to follow the previous fare rate and ensure the compliance of health guidelines in the buses,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Bus operators had asked for the government’s permission to normalize bus services mid-August. BRTA wrote to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry to take necessary steps regarding the transport owners’ proposal to operate buses at full capacity and reinstate the previous fare rates.
On August 24, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader confirmed that the authorities concerned have taken the necessary measures to normalize the public transport sector. Later, BRTA permitted the bus operators to resume normal services.
Public transport services, including buses and minibuses, resumed services on June 1 after more than two months hiatus. The government suspended the services on March 26 to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Following demands by transport leaders, the government hiked bus fares by 60% from June 1 on the condition that buses would carry passengers at half capacity and follow other health safety guidelines. But the authorities received a large number of complaints regarding the violation of such rules, as most operators defied the directives and carried passengers at full capacity.
“We will operate mobile courts at several points in the city and monitor the buses,” said Mohammad Abdur Razzak, deputy director (law and enforcement) of BRTA.
“We have also sent letters to the deputy commissioners of all districts to operate mobile courts in their respective jurisdictions,” he added.
Train services to start in full swing from September 5
Bangladesh Railway resumed its operation on a limited scale from June 1 with a dozen trains after more than two months’ interruption. However, all 100 intercity trains, and the mail trains will resume their usual service from September 5.
Three major stations — Airport, Gazipur and Narsingdi — are also set to restart their operations.
Nevertheless, Bangladesh Railway will continue to sell only 50% of the tickets to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said: “As the Covid-19 situation becomes normal, we are going to resume the usual services. The trains will be operated following health guidelines.”
