'End broker activities at BRTA'

27 December 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday strictly directed the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to stop the activities of "brokers" in the institution to relieve people of sufferings and to bring order in road transportation. He said brokers controlled the BRTA and made people to suffer in obtaining driving licences and vehicle registrations. Initiatives would have to be taken to the break the "evil chain", he said. The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of a workshop on "enhancing skills and awareness of professional drivers" organised by the BRTA at its Elenbari head office in the city. A total of 25 batches, each comprising of 50 drivers, will be trained under the three-month workshop. Talking about bribery and corruption in the BRTA, he said many officials have been working in the same posts of same working stations for 12-15 years. They along with the brokers have made the "evil chain" to run their illegal business smoothly, he said. "But I will no longer tolerate such irregularities. The officials will be transferred as per the rule. We will have to remove the 'bad image' of the BRTA by ending those irregularities". About traffic situation in Dhaka city, the minister blamed a huge number of unfit vehicles for accidents and gave direction to the authorities concerned to stop plying of those vehicles. He also sought cooperation from all including bus operators, drivers, and passengers to reduce traffic jam and road accidents. BRTA Chairman Ayubur Rahman Khan and Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) Executive Director Dr SM Salehuddin, among others, spoke at the function.