In the light of rising trend in coronavirus transmission, the government has directed all public transports to carry half the capacity of passengers.
However, most of the passengers, expressing resentment, said that the decision did not benefit them. Instead, sufferings rose by manyfold as hundreds of passengers were found waiting at the bus stops struggling ride buses among huge waiting crowds.
“They should have increased the number of transports to facilitate smooth public transport. The decision is welcomed but what about replacing the empty seats with more available buses?” an upset waiting passenger in Badda told this correspondent.
Similar decisions were taken for water transports. Launch services are scheduled to carry half the passengers as well starting from Wednesday with increased fares by 60 per cent as.
The decision was taken at a meeting on Eid management chaired by State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
Furthermore, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) imposed a ban on ride-share providing motorcycles to maintain health safety guidelines and social distancing.
BRTA issued a circular regarding this on Wednesday. The ban will be effective for at least two weeks until further notice according to the BRTA.
Meanwhile, passengers on the road, who depend on the public transport, are found to have fallen into extreme misery on the second day of the decision. Many passengers, at bus stoppages, were found waiting for hours for a transport.
The Prime Minister's Office issued a 16-point directive earlier this week in order to prevent spreading of the virus. It stated that public transport has to comply with health safety rules and not carry more than half its capacity.
Following the decision, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the decision to increase fares by 60 per cent and cut the capacity in half would be effective from Wednesday.
Passengers and transport workers said that the decision to transport half the passengers on the buses was not justified when all workplaces remain open. The capital has an evident transport crisis and if half of the passengers get transport services, the problem is likely to become acute. No measures are taken to increase the number of transport options to tackle such a situation.
"Last year, such decisions followed the closing down of most offices, educational institutions, shopping malls and industries but now every work place is open. The number of people using public transport has not been cut whereas the number of available seats in the buses have been reduced. How do you address this equation?" said Sadia, a commuter.
Rajnigandha, Labbiyake, Anabil and Moumita buses plying on their route have been seen transporting half of the passengers.
The Shravan Paribahan buses plying on the Rayerbagh-Shanirakhra-Kajla-Gulistan route have been carrying passengers in the two-seat per passenger policy since yesterday. However, due to limited passenger transport, a huge number of people are seen gathering at bus stands.
