Transport owners demand withdrawal of order to operate vehicles at half capacity

Leaders of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association have urged the government to withdraw its instruction to operate public transports at half their passenger capacity.

"If the government meets our demand and allows us to operate buses at their full passenger capacity, we will take previous fare from passengers," they said.

The leaders placed this demand at a meeting with top officials of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office in the capital Wednesday.

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the association, told The Business Standard that the BRTA chairman would place their proposal to the higher authorities.

"Our demand is logical. As smaller public transports and launches are carrying passengers at their full passenger capacity, we also want to operate buses carrying full capacity following the health guidelines," he said.

"Ministry officials told us that our demands will be met if the cabinet approves it," he added.

BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder said, "All have to follow the health guidelines to contain Covid-19 outbreak. We have received the proposal from the bus owners. We will send it to the higher authorities and then they will take a decision in this regard."

Public transport had remained closed since March 26 in a bid to contain Covid-19 infection. However, it resumed on June 1 on conditions of operating vehicles at half their passenger capacity and following the health rules.

At the time, the government increased the fares for public buses by 60 percent.