25-30% Bus Seats Must Be Kept Empty, No Standing Passengers: Quader

Obaidul Quader, Minister of Road, Transport and Bridges, said Friday that buses will have to hold 25-30 percent of seats empty and not be able to accommodate standing passengers when traveling from Sunday.

"The passengers will have to get on the bus by maintaining a distance of 3 feet from each other," he added.

Quader made these directives while speaking at a meeting with vehicle owners, laborers organizations at the office of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.

As the buses will carry fewer passengers, the question was raised over bus fare, said Quader adding that BRTA committee will fix the bus fare.

Minister has ordered each and every bus to be washed with disinfectant before going on the road while passengers, drivers and assistants have to wear face masks.

Drivers and helpers will not be permitted to be on duty constantly, he added.

Considering the livelihoods of lakhs of transports workers, vehicles have been permitted to ply on roads, said Quader adding that owners will have to keep that in mind and follow the directives.

Drivers and helpers will be provided counseling at every terminal, he added.

People opposed having public transit, but buses have to obey the laws as BRTA tries to operate its mobile trials.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the bus fare will be set, Road secretary Md Nazrul Islam said.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told media that the government has decided to allow limited public transport operational activities.

Public transports – buses, trains and vessels – will have to maintain health guidelines, Hossain said.

“The district administration will ensure that health rules are being followed,” he said.

Public transport was shut down after the government announced general holidays beginning on March 26 to contain coronavirus transmission.

Source: UNB