Operating buses at full capacity will be dangerous

We are concerned at the bus owners' wish to operate their vehicles at full capacity at a time when the number of new infections and deaths from Covid-19 is still on the rise in the country. Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association (BRTOA) has made this demand to the government claiming that the Covid-19 situation is getting back to normal here. Since there have been allegations against the bus operators of charging extra fares from passengers, the owners are now saying that they would charge the passengers previous fares if they are allowed to run at full capacity. But allowing "full-scale" movement of public transport would further increase the transmission of the deadly virus, according to the health experts.

When the services of public transport resumed on June 1, after more than two months of suspension, the road transport and bridges ministry gave specific directives to the operators on how they should operate. The bus fare was increased by 60 percent on conditions that bus operators would carry passengers at half their capacity and that they would not carry any standing passengers. The ministry circular also mentioned that health safety guidelines would have to be maintained by all. Sadly, these directives were hardly followed by the bus operators.

Reportedly, many of them charged the passengers more than 60 percent of the previous fare and also did not keep the required number of seats vacant in a bus, meaning that physical distancing guidelines were not followed. Although BRTA took some steps against the non-compliant bus operators and fined them for charging extra fares, we wonder what has been done to make sure they follow the health safety guidelines. Clearly, public buses have played a big role in increasing the spread of the virus, particularly in the capital, as they have hardly followed any safety guidelines.

And now if the bus owners run their vehicles at full capacity, there is no doubt that the coronavirus situation in the country will get worse. No matter how many directives are issued by the government about maintaining health safety guidelines, those will be useless unless the government can ensure their proper implementation. Needless to say, the risk of spreading the virus will be high in overcrowded buses. Thus, we expect a well-thought-out decision from the government regarding the bus owners' demand.