Defying inter-district movement ban: 18 buses seized in Ctg

Highway police have seized 18 buses in Chattogram for flouting the government's ban on inter-district movement aiming to contain the surge of Covid-19 cases amid lockdown.

The public transports were intercepted from the Sitakunda section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Sunday night, police said adding that a total of 14 cases were filed in this regard.

"The Buses were carrying passengers from Chattogram to different districts including Dhaka on Saturday night and Monday morning despite the ban," said Abul Hasnat, Sub-Inspector of Bar Aulia Highway Police Station.

The passengers were escorted out of the bus and were sent back, he said.

Long-distance buses run from port city's Alangkar circle. 

The government has placed a strict ban on inter-district bus travelling amid lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections since April 6.

However, buses of different companies have been leaving for Dhaka or north-south region of the country by selling tickets secretly and charging double hike in fare as Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival in the country is likely to be celebrated after four days.

Earlier, the government enforced the lockdown from 6 April, which was later extended in several phases in the face of a surge in Covid-19 infections in the country.

Lastly, the lockdown was extended until 16 May as the second of the pandemic wave hit the country.

Meanwhile, the alarming Coronavirus transmission surge in the country may get worse after Eid-ul-Fitr, warned Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) spokesman Nazmul Islam on Sunday.