Uber, Pathao to ply during shutdown

Ridesharing services and private vehicles will run in Dhaka during the shutdown from March 26 to April 4, said police.

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday said the transport ban would be applicable only to the public transportations.

Private cars, CNG-run autorickshaws, motor-bikes, bicycles and mobile phone app-based transport services will remain out of the ban, Mofizuddin Ahmed, additional commissioner (traffic) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police told The Business Standard.

The government slapped a ban on public transportations Tuesday after announcing general holidays from March 26 to April 4 in a bid to tackle the novel coronavirus spread.

In a video message, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday revealed the decision of the countrywide lockdown.

Quader said trucks, covered vans, medicine, emergency services and transportation of perishable items would remain out of the ban.

However, no passenger will be allowed on the goods-laden vehicles.       

The government banned launch and domestic flights too amid the coronavirus outbreak.