Dhaka - Pandemic Diary of Non-motorised Transport Worker - Rickshaw
2020, 26 March
Nationwide General Holiday and Public transport suspended.
Rickshaw transport workers (RTW) leave Dhaka city for their villages.
2020, 2 April
General Holiday Extended for further 4 weeks.
RTW engage in rural livelihoods like carpentry, cutting paddy or relying on their family’s savings.
2020, 6 May
Phased reopening as garment factories and intra-city transport resumes.
Many new entrants to rickshaw sector as workers lose jobs in masonry, haulage, hospitality and construction or leave hospital ward boy jobs.
2020, 31 May
Zonal restrictions with red (closed), yellow (limited), green (open).
Rickshaws stay put in garages as informal settlements are in red zones (Kallyanpur-Pora Basti, Mohammadpur- Sadek Khan) or yellow zones Gulshan-Karail.
2020, 1 September
All restrictions on public transport lifted, and resume operating at full capacity.
RTW work longer hours for only half of their pre-pandemic earning.
2021, 1 Feb
Bangladesh starts vaccine campaign.
RTW not included in the vaccine initiative for transport workers although they have played a role in transporting vaccines to remote areas in the past.
2021, 29 March
Bangladesh records highest number of Covid cases since pandemic started, restrictions on public gatherings and public transport.
2021, 5 April
Government enforces strict lockdown.
RTW remain in city as they anticipate that the lockdown will be for a short period but protest for food relief packages from the Government.
2021, 24 May
Public transport reopened after 7 weeks, RTW face more police checkposts.
2021, 22 June
7 districts surrounding Dhaka go into lockdown.
Women in many TW households take up jobs
in garment factories to supplement income.
2021, 1 July - 31 July
Strict nationwide lockdown as army is brought in to enforce.
2021 August
All restrictions removed, although schools remain closed, shopping malls with reduced opening hours.
RTW families share childcare as wome go to work.
2021 December
Return to “new normal” as restrictions on main road use continue.
RTWs regain only half of their pre-pandemic earnings with fewer passengers but greater fear of police harassment.
Dhaka - Pandemic Diary of a Motorised Transport Worker – Pick Up Vans and CNGs
2020, 26 March
Nationwide General Holiday and all public transport and ride sharing app suspended.
As motorised transport workers (MTW) stay back in Dhaka with possibility of working for essential services.
2020, 2 April
General Holiday Extended for further 4 weeks.
Pick up van, mini van, private bus and CNG operators had no income for 2 months at least. Few availed of a government cash relief of BDT 2600 (GBP 26).
2020, 6 May
Intra-city transport resumes but inter-city transport and long route domestic transport suspended.
Pick up vans and CNG try to use vehicles to sell vegetables or take higher commission for driving goods at night.
2020, 31 May
Zonal restrictions and ride sharing apps reopen.
CNG operators can no longer go to any part of the city as they live in restricted zones themselves but pick up vans can carry on delivering goods between warehouses and factories.
2020, 1 September
All restrictions on public transport lifted.
CNG sector still slow to recover as schools remain closed. Childcare is shared and women supplement income.
2021, 1 February
Bangladesh starts vaccine campaign.
MTW able to access vaccine a year later when the Government launches Shurokhar Pothe, an onsite vaccination to make up for the poor uptake on the digital campaign.
2021, 29 March
Bangladesh records highest number of Covid cases since pandemic started.
Restrictions on public gatherings and public transport.
2021, 5 April
Government enforces strict lockdown.
While public transport is shut CNGs can operate within city limits.
2021, 24 May
Public transport reopened after 7 weeks.
Stricter police presence in elite areas to enforce transport restrictions.
2021, 22 June
Amidst heavy monsoon floods 7 districts surrounding Dhaka go into lockdown to reduce transmission into the capital.
CNG can drive unrestricted within city limits put pick up van drivers lose out on their chief income source.
2021, 1 July-31 July
Strict lockdown imposed with help of army.
Some pick up van drivers break lockdown rules such as taking commissions for transporting passengers or goods on pre-text of essential travel, usually at night.
2021 August
All restrictions removed, although schools remain closed, shopping malls with reduced opening hours.
Income returns to half of pre-pandemic levels for pick up van and CNG drivers while child care is shared.
2021 December
Return to “new normal” with old rules for CNG (any part of Dhaka) and pick up vans (outside Dhaka) continuing.
Drivers say that if the pandemic continues, some would return their vehicle to the bank (if owned) or take loan to start a new business or get a salaried job as a driver.