200 transport workers facing shutdown miseries at Jashore bus terminal

FT ONLINE

About 200 transport workers, who got stranded at Jashore Bus Terminal following the nationwide shutdown enforced to curb the coronavirus transmission, have been passing their days amid miseries with limited food assistance.

The workers said they took shelter in the terminal after the transport movement had come to a halt towards the end of March.

Talking to them, the FT team found that they are workers of vehicles that ply routes to Satkhira, Magura, Kushtia, Narail, Benapole, Khulna and Dhaka from Jashore. Most of them hail from southern districts, including Khulna and Satkhira.

Sources said over 600 transport workers are involved in the profession of drivers, helpers and mechanics on 32 routes that start from the district.

Selim Reza Mithu, joint general secretary of Jashore Transport Workers’ Association, said about 200 workers remained stuck at the terminal and they could not manage to go home.

Rabiul Islam, a transport worker, said, “I work for people, but no-one is standing by me and my family in this time of pandemic.”

He said they are not getting enough help to survive in this stranded condition.

Contacted, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shafiul Arif said he has already got information about the stranded transport workers.

The administration will manage food for them as long as they stay there as well as their home-going, he said.

Thousands of transport workers lost their jobs after the countrywide transport movement ban was imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday evening declared the entire country as ‘vulnerable-to-infection’ zone.