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Only freight trains and trucks will run amid lockdown


Published : 12 Apr 2021 09:43 PM | Updated : 13 Apr 2021 12:26 AM

Amid the harsher lockdown, which will be effective for a week from tomorrow (April 14) to control the rise in corona transmission, freight trains and trucks will keep on running even if all public transport is set to halt.

A communique in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division on Monday (April 12).

It said, all types of transport (road, sea, domestic and international flights) will be closed.

But as freight and parcel trains are out of the restriction, Bangladesh Railway has already made preparations to transport goods by train.

According to the management branch of the railways, the number of freight trains for transporting emergency goods will be increased in case of any emergency.

Md Nurul Islam Sujon, Minister for Railways, is supposed to provide detailed information in this regard at a press conference, at Railway House today.

Earlier, Sardar Shahadat Ali, Additional Director General (Operations) of Railways quoted, “Passenger trains were stopped in similar situations before. It will be closed again but the emergency freight trains will run.”

Meanwhile, trucks and mini-trucks (pick-up vans) will continue to ply on the roads even if all types of passenger traffic are closed due to restrictions.

However, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader urged the concerned people to keep an eye on the freight transport so that it does not turn into passenger transport in any way. 

He said this at a view exchange meeting on Monday (April 12), on the ongoing activities of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

Obaidul Quader joined the meeting via video conference from his official residence and said, "During the lockdown period, except many, some of the transport owners and drivers-staffs didn't obey the guidelines."

He called for stricter monitoring of hygiene in these areas, including the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport.

Mentioning the need to increase the number of mobile courts and conduct regular mobile courts if necessary, the minister said, "Deputy Commissioners can be assisted in running mobile courts at the district level. Action should be taken where there are irregularities. No one can be indulged. It must be strictly enforced."

Obaidul Quader specially requested the concerned people to keep an observing eye on this issue.