Govt backtracks: Public transports to carry passengers at full capacity
The government on Monday said that public transports would carry passengers at half capacity
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 13 Jan 2022, 08:45 PMUpdate : 14 Jan 2022, 12:11 AM
The government yesterday backtracked from its earlier decision instructing public transports to carry passengers at half their capacity considering the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
The decision on carrying passengers at half capacity on public transports was supposed to have been enforced from yesterday all over the country. But at a meeting with the government on Wednesday, bus owners suggested that they would follow all health guidelines while rendering services and continue to carry passengers at full capacity.
A gazette notification issued Monday had said that public transports would carry passengers at half capacity while maintaining proper health safety guidelines.
Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, yesterday confirmed that the government agreed to let owners carry passengers at full capacity. But no standing passengers would be allowed.
He said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority conveyed the decision to them verbally. “It has been taken considering the public sufferings as the number of transports is not sufficient. The bus drivers and their helpers have been asked to follow health safety guidelines including wearing masks.”
“We have already informed all bus owners about this. They will take steps against any staffer who violate health rules. We will also train our staff members,” he said.
In a notice to its members, the association yesterday said the buses will need to keep hand sanitizers on board and the drivers, helpers and passengers will have to wear face masks mandatorily.
The staffers will have to carry their Covid-19 vaccine certificates with them as well, read the notice.
The development came when the fresh 11-point restrictions, imposed by the government to prevent the highly contagious new Covid-19 variant Omicron, had come into effect yesterday.
Govt backtracks: Public transports to carry passengers at full capacity
The government on Monday said that public transports would carry passengers at half capacity
The government yesterday backtracked from its earlier decision instructing public transports to carry passengers at half their capacity considering the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
The decision on carrying passengers at half capacity on public transports was supposed to have been enforced from yesterday all over the country. But at a meeting with the government on Wednesday, bus owners suggested that they would follow all health guidelines while rendering services and continue to carry passengers at full capacity.
A gazette notification issued Monday had said that public transports would carry passengers at half capacity while maintaining proper health safety guidelines.
Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, yesterday confirmed that the government agreed to let owners carry passengers at full capacity. But no standing passengers would be allowed.
He said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority conveyed the decision to them verbally. “It has been taken considering the public sufferings as the number of transports is not sufficient. The bus drivers and their helpers have been asked to follow health safety guidelines including wearing masks.”
“We have already informed all bus owners about this. They will take steps against any staffer who violate health rules. We will also train our staff members,” he said.
In a notice to its members, the association yesterday said the buses will need to keep hand sanitizers on board and the drivers, helpers and passengers will have to wear face masks mandatorily.
The staffers will have to carry their Covid-19 vaccine certificates with them as well, read the notice.
The development came when the fresh 11-point restrictions, imposed by the government to prevent the highly contagious new Covid-19 variant Omicron, had come into effect yesterday.
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