Public Transport Will Operate on the Day of Awami League’s Lockdown: Owners’ Association

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has confirmed that public transport will operate on the day of the 13th November lockdown, called by the Awami League. The association has also instructed the workers to be extra cautious while commuting.

In an interview with Jagonews on Wednesday (12th November) afternoon, the Joint Secretary of the association, Kazi Md. Zobayer Masud, stated that public transport will run on the roads just like any other day. However, the transport owners and terminal officials have been advised to ensure that no incidents of fire occur in the buses. The buses should be equipped with fire extinguishers, as per the directive.

He further mentioned that a transport worker died and two others were injured in a bus fire incident in Mymensingh’s Fulbaria area on the night of 10th November. In protest of the incident, transport workers across the country, including Dhaka, have been staging demonstrations. They are also keeping vigil at the bus terminals throughout the night and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in various parts of Dhaka and the country, miscreants have been setting vehicles on fire and carrying out covert cocktail explosions, which has impacted the movement of vehicles on the roads. Today, fewer vehicles, both personal and public transport, were seen on the roads in Dhaka.

In light of this situation, commuters have raised concerns regarding whether public transport will operate during the lockdown on Thursday and whether the buses are equipped with fire extinguishers in case of a fire. Zahidul Islam, a passenger traveling from Agargaon to Badda Link Road on an Alif Paribahan bus, expressed his concern, saying that the recent incidents of vehicle fires and cocktail explosions have created panic among the public, leading to fewer vehicles on the roads today. He added that he is unsure whether buses will operate tomorrow and if fire extinguishers are available in the buses to prevent fire outbreaks.