Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation President Shajahan Khan has said drivers should be brought to justice if they commit any crime, but there should be a provision of securing bail in the new road transport act.
The former shipping minister also mentioned that there will be a crisis of drivers if they remain in custody for a long time.
Shajahan Khan came up with the statement on Sunday after the first meeting of the Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan -led taskforce designated for implementing 111 recommendations, report BSS and UNB.
The recommendations were proposed by a committee headed by Shajahan Khan to curb road accidents and restore discipline on roads and highways.
“Having a bail provision is our demand to the government…it’s up to them whether they fulfill it or not,” Shajahan said.
"Over 3,000-4,000 road accidents occur every year, and if all the 4,000 drivers go off driving, there will be a crisis in the transport sector," he added.
Shajahan went on to say, “We still don’t have the capacity to create new professional drivers by providing them institutional training.”
He also said the Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority (BRTA) is failing to provide licenses to the drivers due to their limitations.
Pointing to media reports on transport strike, Shajahan said there is no strike now, and drivers with fake licenses are not driving vehicles as they will have to pay fine.
Everything on highways and roads is fine now, said Shajahan adding that the vehicles which do not have fitness are not plying roads, and the number of vehicles on roads is now lower.
Meanwhile, Sunday's meeting of the taskforce formed four subcommittees to find out flaws in the ‘Road Transport Act’ and prepare an action plan to bring discipline on roads.
The secretaries of Road Transport and Highways division, Information Ministry, Public Safety division and Local Government Division have been made heads of the subcommittees.
“The four subcommittees will submit their respective reports with recommendations and action plans in two months. The taskforce will take measures after holding discussions on their recommendations,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said after the meeting.
Speaking about exemption of fines for not paying fitness tax in time, the minister said, “We urged them (who did not pay fitness tax in due time) to submit applications. The fines will be exempted after submission of the applications to the finance ministry with the recommendation of road transport and bridges minister”.
Noting that there is no prevision of death penalty in the Road Transport Act, Asaduzzaman said misleading campaigns created panic among the drivers. Information secretary will work on this issue, he added.
The act specifies the highest punishment (jail and fine), the home minister said, adding there is no decision to reduce this punishment.
The judge will determine the type and magnitude of punishment as per the law, he said.
The new Road Transport Act, 2018 that took effect on November 1 does not allow drivers to have any bail after any case filed against them.
