4 buses seized for violating lockdown norms in Jashore

Police have seized four passenger buses in Jashore district for allegedly violating lockdown norms.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team intercepted the four buses -- three near Manirampur police station and one from the New Market area in Shyamnagar upazila -- on Tuesday night.

Upon checking, the police team found that several passengers were sitting together and many of them were not wearing masks or adhering to other Covid safety protocols.

Subsequently, the four buses were seized, said Mahbub Kabir, traffic inspector of Jashore. Of the four buses, two buses belonged to ‘Green Bangla Paribahan’.

All the buses were on their way to Dhaka and some 80-90 passengers had boarded the buses, and most were not adhering to Covid safety protocols, police said.

However, the drivers and helpers of the buses have not been arrested, police said.

Public transport services were suspended in Bangladesh on April 5, with the government announcing a countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.

On April 30, the transport owners' association urged the government to immediately resume bus services in the country. The association also demanded food assistance for the unemployed transport workers.

On May 3, the government decided to allow the intra-district public transport services with effect from May 6 after extending the ongoing lockdown till May 16.

The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.