Transport leaders renew demand for changes to Road Transport Act

Transport leaders yesterday reiterated their demand for changing several sections of the Road Transport Act-2018, which came into force partially from November last year.

Some demanded that the government keep the much-talked-about law "ineffective" for six more months.

They were speaking at a discussion at Engineers' Institute of  Bangladesh. Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association organised the  meeting with its members who owns trucks, covered vans and tank lorries.

Top transport leaders said they have given a proposal for several changes in the law and hoped that their demands would be fulfilled. Besides, they also sought a waiver of late fines for vehicle owners and drivers who failed to update their documents on time for six more months.

The parliament in September 2018 passed the act but the government did not make it operational till November last year. When the authorities were about to implement it, transport organisations protested it, forcing authorities to halt function of several sections of the act.

Osman Ali, general secretary of Road Transport Workers' Federation, said for some offences, fine has been increased more than 20 to 30 times in the new law. He also said all sections have to be made bailable.

Road Transport Owners' Association's President Mashiur Rahman Ranga, also Jatiya party lawmaker, said they would talk at the parliament in favor of changes in the act.

Federation's acting president Shajahan Khan said the law has some positive and negative aspects and they are in discussion for bringing changes in it.

Khondaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the association, and Abul Kalam, president of Rajshahi District Truck Covered Van Owners  Association, also spoke.