'Allowing private vehicles for Eid journey is suicidal'

At a time when public transport movement remains suspended across the country, the government’s decision allowing Eid holiday makers to travel in private vehicles is apparently “suicidal,” said the Jatri Kalyan Samity.

The passengers' welfare organization| also feared that the government’s failure to restrict people’s movement| during the Eid holiday would pave the way to further failure in containing Covid-19 transmission and controlling road accidents.

The organization came up with the remarks through a press release issued by its General Secretary Shamsuddin Chowdhury, reports UNB.

A group of car and microbus owners trying to get the attention of the holidaymakers who have decided to leave Dhaka amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic | Mahmud Hossain Opu

It mentioned that the authorities had initially prohibited Eid journeys to prevent the transmission of the fast-spreading disease and the law enforcers also came up for strict controlling of vehicles on the highways.

But the government backtracked a few days ago and allowed Eid journeys in private vehicles while keeping the public transport movement suspended.

Exploiting the decision, a group of car and microbus owners is running their business using various tricks, it said.

Even they are not abiding by any health guidelines while carrying passengers, putting them in the risk of being infected with the deadly virus.

However, Jatri Kalyan Samity urged the authorities concerned to ensure 14-day home quarantine for the holidaymakers after they return to their respective workplaces.