Action against those violating govt’s bus fare directives: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said legal action will be taken if anyone charges extra transport fare from passengers violating the government's directives.

The minister came up with the remark this morning in a video conference with officials of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) from his residence.

"Although most of the hygiene rules amid Covid-19 are followed on the roads, some transports are taking extra fares and are seen violating the hygiene rules. The government will take legal action against them," he said, says a press release.

The government on Sunday increased the fares of all buses, including inter-district bus services, by 60 percent as the vehicles are allowed to carry passengers at half their capacity to maintain social distancing amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Earlier, the fare committee of the BRTA recommended increasing the fares of all buses, including, inter-district bus services, by 80 percent.

On Thursday, the government decided to allow public transports, including buses, trains, and inland water vessels, to resume services from Sunday on condition of abiding by social distancing rules and health directives.

On Friday, in separate meetings with transport owners, BRTA and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority decided to resume public transports.

All modes of public transport remained suspended since March 26, when the government enforced a shutdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus across the country.