Garment workers blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur for two hours this morning due to the hassles they were facing on the road amid the ongoing “strict lockdown”.

India and Bangladesh yesterday began regular operation of freight trains through the Haldibari-Chilahati rail route 56 years after it had been suspended following the India-Pakistan war in 1965.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has decided to continue launch services till 6:00am tomorrow.

Bangladesh and India today started regular operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail route, aiming to “strengthen rail connectivity and bilateral trade” between the two countries.

Although public transports were allowed to operate till noon today to facilitate workers returning to workplace amid lockdown, vehicles were seen plying Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways after 12pm.

As public transport was allowed till this noon, workers of export-oriented factories were rushing to their workplaces in Dhaka and adjacent areas, causing massive traffic congestion on Bangabandhu bridge.

The government has decided to allow all public transport to operate till 12pm tomorrow, to facilitate workers and concerned officials of export-oriented factories returning to their workplaces.

The first goods train through the revived Haldibari (West Bengal) - Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link is set to leave Damdim station of Alipurduar shortly after midnight on August 1, carrying stone chips, in a move aimed at promoting South Asian sub-regional trade. 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has eased restrictions on the movement of water transport from this evening until 12:00 noon tomorrow, to allow workers of export-oriented factories to come to Dhaka and resume their work.

Ferry terminals are witnessing massive rush today as workers of garments and other export-oriented factories have started to return to Dhaka following a government announcement that the factories will be allowed to reopen from August 1, amid the ongoing "strict lockdown".

A goods train, carrying wheat and boulders, is expected to travel from India’s Haldibari into Bangladesh on August 1 (Sunday) -- on a rail route revived by the two countries after 56 years.

Ferry services between Munshiganj's Shimulia and Madaripur's Banglabazar have resumed after three hours of suspension due to stormy weather and strong current in Padma river.

Another Oxygen Express, a train carrying oxygen supply, of Indian Railways has embarked on its journey to Bangladesh carrying 200 MT of Oxygen to help Bangladesh address respiratory distress due to Covid-19.

On the fifth day of the ongoing strict lockdown, commuters and all kinds of vehicles including motorcycles, private cars and microbuses are still crossing the river via Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminals --  violating restrictions.

Indian Railways' Oxygen Express has embarked on its journey to Bangladesh to deliver much-needed oxygen supply for Bangladesh’s fight against Covid-19.

Ferries on Paturia-Daulatdia routes are transporting returning holidaymakers, who went to their village homes before Eid, and all vehicles except buses on the second day of the 14-day “strict lockdown”.

The project director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project has said that they do not think the hit to a pillar by a ferry this morning has caused any damage to the structure.

Passengers and all kinds of vehicles including motorcycles, private cars and microbuses have been crossing Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminals since this morning in violation of the lockdown.

Dozens of drivers in Dhaka's Sayedabad bus terminal left their buses, leaving passengers on board stranded, after a BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority) mobile court appeared today.

Hundreds of vehicles heading for 21 southern and western districts of the country are waiting at Paturia and Aricha ferry ghats to cross Padma and Jamuna rivers today as a large number of people are leaving Dhaka on the last day before Eid-ul-Azha.