Crucial issues missing in draft road transport act

Experts and stakeholders yesterday pointed out that many crucial issues, like speed limits, accident probes, safety and victims' compensation, and their related aspects have been missed out in a recently drafted "Bangladesh Road Transport Act-2016".

They suggested keeping in mind that the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal motor vehicle agreement would come into effect soon, while referencing the countries' transport laws when tailoring the act to the present age and time.

The observations included delineating all facets of road transport crimes to prevent the act's misuse, something Bangladesh Police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) officials also mentioned.

The remarks came at a stakeholder workshop organised by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and World Health Organization Dhaka in the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Secretary General Khandaker Enayet Ullah proposed keeping provisions holding all concerned, from road engineers to drivers, accountable for road accidents.

Osman Ali, general secretary, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said motorised vehicles were brought under the act but nothing was said about non-motorised ones and pedestrians.

"No provisions have been incorporated in the law to make public transport, traffic management, construction of motor vehicles and parts time-befitting," he said, adding that they have reservations about 64 out of the act's 71 provisions.

Faruk Talukder Sohel, managing director, Shohagh Paribahan (Pvt) Ltd, mentioned of the necessity of science-based accident probes and of the absence of safety concerns related to highway users and to economic activities and construction of mills and factories by roads.

Abu Naser Khan, chairman, Poribesh Bachao Andolon, recommended adopting automated traffic enforcement systems to issue tickets, like that in developed countries.

DMP Joint Commissioner Imtiaz Ahmed objected to the leaving out of provisions over issuing on-the-spot fines, saying roughly 10 lakh people would need to be sent to courts annually for settling cases.

He noted that there was no mention of traffic management.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan pointed out stark differences in weight-based classification of light, medium and heavy vehicles between Bangladesh (up to 3,000, 6,000 and over 6,000 kilogrammes respectively) and India (7,500, 12,000 and over 12,000 kilogrammes).

For this, police in Bangladesh could bring charges against Indians with driving licences for light vehicles, he said.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said it was "surprising" that modernising a former ordinance and turning it into an act took 33 years.

He, however, noted that enacting a law was not an easy task. "It is a difficult task but not impossible. I know I have to overcome a number of obstacles. I have to be tough," he said.

He also lamented not being able to bring discipline in the road transport sector and controlling traffic jam.

BRTA Chairman Nazrul Islam chaired the workshop where Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary MAN Siddique, journalist Abul Maqsud and film actor Ilias Kanchan also spoke.