No progress towards safe roads after task force made 111 recommendations


FE REPORT | Published: December 24, 2020 10:27:36 | Updated: December 24, 2020 15:56:10


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The second meeting of the task force (TF) formed to bring discipline in streets ended on Wednesday without any action plan.

The first meeting, which was held more than a year ago, made 111 recommendations to this end.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, head of the task force, chaired Wednesday's meeting in the ministry's conference room.

The meeting discussed the recommendations placed by former shipping minister Shajahan Khan.

Mr Shajahan, also executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation, and former state minister for LGRD and cooperatives Moshiur Rahman Ranga, also president of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, attended the meeting as members.

The committee was formed on the National Road Safety Council's recommendation in a meeting on February 17, 2019.

It placed 111 immediate, short and long-term recommendations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 28 to bring order in roads and check accidents.

Later, the 33-member task force was formed on October 15 to implement those recommendations and the first meeting was held on November 24, 2019.

At that time, four subcommittees were also formed to submit a plan of action within two months.

Talking to reporters after the second meeting, the home minister said the task force members decided to discuss more on the recommendations and take an action plan.

He said the subcommittees have already submitted their recommendations after evaluation, adding that the next meeting will discuss those suggestions.

Replying to a question, Mr Khan said committee members were considering the premier's directives and the existing law to implement the recommendations.

As difficulties are rife in the transport sector, he said, it would take time for implementation.

Road transport and highways division secretary Md Nazrul Islam, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder, owners association secretary general Khandakar Enayet Ullah, workers' federation general secretary Osman Ali and Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners' Association president Ramesh Chandra Ghosh were also present.

smunima@yahoo.com

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