Dope test now mandatory for driving license: Quader

The Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today told Parliament that dope tests had been made mandatory with the application form from January 30, 2022 in case of issuance and renewal of professional driving license.

Meanwhile, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon also told Parliament today that there are 22,704 vacant posts in railways currently.

Nurul Islam revealed the statistics in response to a query from ruling Awami League MP Mamunur Rashid Kiran during today's question-answer session of parliament tabled with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

He said of the total vacant posts in the railways, 201 posts are of first class, 1,601 posts are of second class, 8,575 third class and 12,327 fourth class posts.

The demand to recruit for 14 first class and 554 second class posts has already been sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC), the minister said, adding that 7,351 posts of third and fourth classes have been given clearance.

In a scripted answer, the minister said a job circular of 441 posts of third class and 2,812 posts of fourth class have been published.

The recruitment test for ALM Grade-2 and Guard Grade 2 posts will be held on June 17, Sujan said.

In response to another query by AL MP Haji Selim, the railways minister said that the amount of unused land of the railways is 10,843.15 hectares. Initiatives have been taken to bring this unused land under fencing and occupy them, he said.

The unused land of the railways and vacant plots in residential areas are somewhat illegally occupied, which are being reclaimed in turns through eviction drives which are conducted every month, the minister added.

DOPE TEST MUST FOR DRIVING LICENSE

Quader was replying to a query by Workers' Party of Bangladesh lawmaker Lutfun Nesa Khan when he told the parliament about the mandatory dope tests for driving license.

License is not being renewed or issued if the dope test report is positive or has negative comments, the minister said.

Responding to another query from ruling party lawmaker M Abdul Latif, Obaidul Quader said that according to the Dhaka Urban Transport Network Development Study (DHUTS) report in 2010, 10.48 percent roads are included in the adjoining areas under Dhaka North and Dhaka South.

Plans have been made to build a circular, well-connected inner ring road around the Dhaka city, the minister added.