The directives for public transport of the government has not been followed properly. The government gave instructions to keep hand sanitizers in every bus and to run half of seat vacant to prevent Covid-19 infections.There is no use of hand sanitizers in public transports. Heath guidelines are also be ignored.Bus owners’ association said, steps must be taken if someone is found ignoring the rules.

Meanwhile, the number of public transports has also increased in hours since buses started plying in the lockdown on Wednesday (April 07) morning.

However, hand sanitizers are not being used on most buses. Concerned people are fearing that the coronavirus will spread quickly as the passengers are getting on and down touching handle of the gate and seats in the bus.

Adhora Islam, a passenger of Projapoti Paribahan, said, “The government issued directives to keep hand sanitizer in every bus. But no buses reserve it. Passengers are using the same handle and seat. Again, disinfectant spray is not being used in the seats. This will increase the risk of coronavirus infection.”

Jummon Hossain, driver’s associate of the bus, said, “Bus owners provided hand sanitizers for passengers during the lockdown last year. But this time, it was not given. So, hand sanitizers are not being kept. If we want to buy hand sanitizer, we have to buy it with our own money.”

Nazmul Islam, a passenger of Silk Line, said, “No hand sanitizer on buses. But the fair has been hiked 60 percent than before. The risk of coronavirus infection seems to be very high in all these transports.”

When contacted, Khandaker Enayet Ullah, general secretary of Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, said, “Owners Association has issued instruction to keep hand sanitizer in every bus. But as I have seen in the papers, many passengers are complaining that hand sanitizers are not being kept. We are looking into this. If anyone does not follow the instruction given by the government, action will be taken against them.”

S/A/08/04/2021