Babul Akhtar Rana, Naogaon
Strict restrictions have been imposed in Naogaon along with the whole country to prevent the spread of global epidemic corona virus. Although everything else seems to be going on as ususal in this lockdown, public transport on all routes within Naogaon district is closed.
As a result, about 12,000 public transport workers involved in this profession are spending their days in much hardship. Moreover, they are not receiving any kind of assistance from anywhere, so they have fallen into a terrible condition.
As the time of the lockdown is increasing, the tendency of people to go out of their houses is also increasing. Although there is no urgent need, some people are coming out with various excuses. There is no way to understand by looking at the picture of the road somewhere that such a strict lockdown is going on in the district.
All other vehicles including CNG, battery-run vans, auto rickshaws, private cars are plying all over Naogaon town. Only the bus drivers, helpers and supervisors are having a hard time with their families as all public transport is closed due to strict restrictions.
So far no help or cooperation has been offered to these unemployed workers. None from the government, the transport owners or the workers' unions stood by these jobless transport workers. They are spending their days with the little bit of money they had saved and are now worried about how they will spend the coming days when they run out of all the savings. They asked for immediate assistance from the government to be able to survive the lockdown period.
Visiting Baludanga bus stand in the district town, it was seen that many of these helpless bus workers were passing their time lying idle there. Many were cooking something to eat on temporary stoves at the bus stand.
Bus drivers and supervisors said, “No one has extended a helping hand towards them in the ongoing severe lockdown like last year. When the wheel of the bus turns, money comes in our pocket. When the bus does not run on the road, we do not earn”.
Supervisor Abdul Jalil, driver Hasan Ali and many others said that the bus service has been stopped since April 5 on the instructions of the government. Last year when the lockdown was going on, the government assured them assistance, but that was not enough for all of them. They requested Sheikh Hasina to save them with some government grants.
President of Naogaon District Road Transport Owners Association Ehsan Reza said, “It is not possible for our association to help so many workers. We ourselves are in a lot of trouble. We earn only when the buses run. From that income we and the workers feed our family. We are trying to do as much as we can for the workers but this little help is nothing for the workers so we are asking for help from the government.”
General Secretary of Naogaon District Motor Workers Union SM Motiuzzaman Moti said, “Everything is going on except the public transport. If the government had allowed public transport to run with half the passengers, the workers would have survived. Therefore, we urge the government to reopen public transport in addition to providing government grant.”
