Govt mulls resuming public transports amid pandemic

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader Saturday said that the government is considering resuming the public transports on conditions and maintaining health guidelines in public interest amid the ongoing lockdown over COVID-19 pandemic.

He said this while speaking at a virtual view exchange meeting with officials of Barishal Road Zone of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) from his official residence here.

Urging all to maintain hygiene rules even if the lockdown is relaxed, Quader, also Awami League general secretary, said : “The use of masks and hand sanitizer should be made mandatory. Besides, those who will take more than the fixed fare after leaving half the seats vacant in public transports will be penalized.”

He further said that a political party of the country is the patron of false propaganda which is being spread at home and abroad using social media.

About the digital security, he said there is no reason to think that cyber crime and digital security will remain out of the purview of the government action. The minister added that digital security must be given to the people of the country as various rumors and propaganda seriously disrupt security and stability of people and society.

He said that the opposition always says against the government every day, even the leaders of the opposition do not spare the Prime Minister. Sometimes, it is seen that the (leaders of the opposition) use offensive language to say anything to the government and the premier, he added.

“But, is there any kind of harassment or arrest against anyone for making such statements (in offensive language)?” he questioned. During the meeting, Quader directed all concerned to take effective measures to upgrade the Faridpur-Bhanga-Barishal road to four-lane.

Meanwhile, a Press Information Department (PID) handout said here today that it is seen recently that many people are uploading various statements and pictures on Facebook with fake identities (IDs) in the name of Road Transport and Bridges Minister and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Obaidul Quader. It is legally a punishable crime, the handout added.

The PID handout informed that Quader has a verified Facebook ID. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has requested not to be confused by statements, pictures or any other content disseminated from all fake IDs except the minister’s verified ID.