Around 36 crew members of a Sundarban-14 launch have been quarantined in the mid-river of Patuakhali Launch Terminal.
Executive magistrates Amit Roy and Golam Sarwar on Thursday around 11:00pm gave the directive of a 14-day quarantine period.
The magistrates said that the crew members violated the government ban on the all public transport services across the country, from March 26 to April 4, to curb coronavirus infections.
They also said the decision of quarantine was taken as per the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research directives.
Khaja Sadikur Rahman, assistant director of Patuakhali Port, said, ‘On information we launched a drive with full preparations. The launch left Dhaka for Patuakhali without any permission. The launch supervisor Yunus along with 35 crew members must be in a14-day quarantine in the mid-river.’
Launch supervisor Yunus, however, claimed that they left Dhaka for Patuakhali without any passengers due to the ‘pollution and odour in the River Buriganga.’
He also said that he along with his staff would follow the authority’s directives.
Thousands of people overcrowded the terminals in the capital as the government on March 23 announced a 10-day public holiday from March 26 to April 4.
The government also closed all public transport services and domestic airways in the country.
