As public transports will carry passengers at their full capacity with previous fare from today (Tuesday), worries pervade as to what extent health rules, including social distancing, will be obeyed in the mass transports amidst the rising corona infections.
However, the experts said it would be a tough challenge to maintain physical distancing if the transport workers do not follow the health guidelines.
The transports would not carry additional passengers against seats, everyone – passengers, drivers, and supervisors – must wear facemask and disinfectant should be used to keep vehicles germ-free, the government earlier instructed the transport owners and workers.
Talking to The Bangladesh Post, public health expert Dr. Ahmed Hussain emphasized that “Everyone must wear a facemask and disinfectant should be used to keep vehicles germ-free. Self-awareness is the key in this case.”
“I would urge transport authorities for the sake of life; they must adhere to health guidelines. But this is the most challenging period. Because, more and more people will come out to commute daily”, he added.
Earlier, the government has decided to reinstate the previous fare for public transports on conditions from September 1, instead of the fare adjusted in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, considering the overall situation and public interest.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, General Secretary of the JatriKalyan Samity, a passenger welfare body, was skeptical about maintaining hygiene in public transport.
“Withdrawal of the imposed fare and going back to regular fare is a very good decision, but I have a doubt regarding at what extent it would be obeyed on public transport. From my past experience, I can say without strict monitoring this is not possible,” he added.
Obviously, it is the utmost challenge for the passengers and transport owners as the death toll due to corona also jumped in this week, he added.
Hand washing facilities, including soaps and sanitizers, should be ensured and passengers must abide by the health guidelines properly to keep them safe from getting infected by the deadly virus.
In this regard, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) also issued a notification about the new decision side by side intensifying its regular monitoring measures to check the violation of government directives by vehicles on streets.
Besides, the highway police, district administrations and others concerned have also been asked to remain more active in making the vehicles follow the directives.
Apart from these, the ministry of road transport and bridges has already ordered the authorities concerned to keep roads and highways neat and clean and beatify those.
In this regard, Secretary-General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association (BRTOA) KhandakerEnayetUllah told the media, that "From September 1, we are ready to run buses and public transports on previous fares. Meanwhile, the transport workers have been instructed by the owners' association in this regard.”
It also asked the officials concerned to remove unnecessary banners and posters from road dividers or both sides of the roads, he added.
Earlier, on 29th August, Road Transport and Bridges Minister ObaidulQuader said that the government has decided to return to the previous rates of public transport fares from September 1 next.
The minister said this while exchanging views with the officials of Dhaka Road Zone's Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) on Saturday morning virtually from his official residence.