Public Transport Workers Are in Deep Melancholy

Ongoing restrictions announced by the government to prevent Covid-19 infection have come to an end on Wednesday. The Cabinet Division has given some new instructions to implement the relaxed restrictions from July 15 to July 23. As the restrictions are relaxed, bus, launch and train services will ply normally across the country from Thursday. There has been a lot of preparation for that among workers. Some are painting, some have turned on the engine of the bus which has been idle for many hours in the last few weeks. 

Restrictions for Eid have been relaxed and public transport has been provided. However, even if it is unlocked, the transport owners and workers are disappointed in this situation of coronavirus infection.

On Wednesday (July 14th) in the capital's Mohakhali, Gabtali and Sayedabad bus stand areas, there was a picture of frustration with transport owners and workers talking. For a long time, public transport has been closed due to restrictions. So the road transport sector is facing a lot of crisis. There is panic among people as the coronavirus infection situation is getting worse. Besides, the economic condition of the people is not good.

Passengers have to transport half of the capacity. In this situation, transport owners and workers have doubts about how many people will go to the village on Eid. They are wondering whether it will be possible to see the face of profit by driving long distance vehicles.

With the holy Eid-ul-Azha in mind, the ongoing restrictions have been relaxed by allowing public transport to operate, opening shops and shopping malls and conducting all activities in compliance with strict hygiene rules. A notification was issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday (July 13) relaxing the restrictions from midnight on July 14 to 6 am on July 23.

At the same time, strict restrictions have been imposed again from 6 am on July 23 to midnight on August 5. The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims in the country, will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 21.

Visiting the Gabtoli bus terminal in the capital, it was seen that many people were selling tickets by opening ticket counters. In addition, clean-up work is underway.

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said, "Long-distance buses will leave Dhaka from Wednesday night. All types of public transport, starting from city services, will ply from tomorrow (Thursday).

Mohammad Habib, counter master of Sakura Paribahan, said, "The bus will be released from tonight. However, it has not been decided yet how many passengers will leave the bus. The owner will give instructions in this regard this afternoon.

He said, ‘Plying the bus with half the passengers during Eid is a loss. Because even if you leave Dhaka with passengers, you have to come empty. If a car hits the road or goes from Dhaka to Barisal, it costs 16 to 18 thousand rupees. But if half of the passengers are taken, it comes to 16 thousand rupees. '

Saidabad sold long-distance bus tickets. Ali Hossain. "Everyone on the transport line is in a very bad condition," he said. The car will run after many days, the owners and workers are also preparing. The main two seasons of this sector are two Eids. But not everything seems to be the same. Because people have the thought of going home if they have money in their pocket. Everyone's economic situation is bad. Even if Eid comes, the situation is not normal. People are also afraid of corona. No one will leave the place unless it is very urgent. So it doesn't look like our fortunes will improve. '

A bus driver said. Abdur Razzak said, ‘If the car is stopped like this, we will go to Cam. There is no way for us to walk. After being closed for so long, he has given one week time, but he is also one of the two seats. What did I say? Amgo let us drive all month, we are a Koirai passenger Tanmu. This is our demand. We don't cry anymore. We have two sons, a wife. In fact, I have been begging for so long. '

Bus owner Shariful Islam said, "It takes some time for a situation to return to normal. Only eight days open. One will go to two seats again, but the rent for two seats will not be available. I have paid the workers as much as I can, who knows if the cost will be raised even if the situation opens up. '

Hossain Mia, a driver of a vehicle plying on the Comilla route, said, "Even if you go home on Eid, you will have to run again the day after Eid." Then again 14 days lockdown. People will not go anywhere unless they fall into disarray. '

Bus supervisor said. Nabi Hossain said, ‘I rented a house by taking an installment of Rs 10,000 during the lockdown last year. I have not been able to repay that installment yet. The work is stopped. There is no way Amgo dies in lockdown. Now opening will be an income of 500-600 rupees per day. One day I will have income, I will come to eat for two days. What will happen in eight days? '

Mofizul Islam Rony, a bus driver on the Dhaka-Kendua route, has three daughters and a son. Lives in Kanchpur area of ​​Narayanganj. Preparing to drive since Thursday. "We are in the middle of a lockdown," he said. I have been struggling with debt for so long. Good decision to open the transports. The government says they will cooperate, we didn't get anything, and we didn't get anything from any organization. '

Malek Hossain, counter master of Relax Paribahan on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route, said, "Our bus will leave tonight. For now, the bus will leave with half the passengers. The next instruction from the owner is that we will leave the bus accordingly. '

Visiting Mohakhali, it is seen that necessary steps are being taken to ensure all the conditions of hygiene in the buses of on Dhaka-Kishoreganj and North Bengal routes.