Desk Report
Published: 14 Jul 2021, 08:53 pm
Representational Image (Photo: Collected)
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.