Both the ministries of road transport and bridges and law have woken up to pass the shelved draft act on road safety.
The matter of the passage of the law came to the fore amid protests to bring culprits into book for killing three college students.
Sources said law ministry sent the draft Road Transport Act (RTA) 2017 to road transport ministry on Wednesday.
It acted promptly after the prime minister had ordered to place it in the cabinet in its next meeting.
The draft RTA remained shelved in law ministry for more than a year for vetting.
It was reported that law ministry had a directive from shipping minister not to take any step for passing the draft before the December general election.
Sources said after getting the draft, road transport ministry already started preparing a summary paper incorporating the changes shown after vetting.
An official involved in the job, however, refrained from giving any comment on changes after vetting.
Road transport and bridges ministry finalised the draft after a series of consultations and studies since 2012.
The draft was sent to law ministry for vetting after cabinet approval in March 2017.
It was to replace the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983 which was the duplicate of the British Old Motor Vehicle Rule.
The act was prepared to make it timely and cover areas of transport sector like axle load, passenger movement, and punishment of drivers and transport owners.
It had 72 sections replacing the ordinance's 177 sections proposing punishment of those responsible in road accidents with seven years of imprisonment and highest 500,000 in fines.
The draft Act, however, proposed to the penal code in case of any criminal offence.
But sources said law ministry after vetting added 41 sections with 25 punishable options in the draft act.
Among the new sections, insurance coverage for victims was incorporated and a fund was proposed to create from transport registration fees for giving damages to the victims' families.
Sources said it was prepared in line with international practices and guidelines of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and Sustainable Development Goals.
The necessity to pass and implement the RTA Act was felt since the death of two legendary personalities Tareq Masud and Ashfaq Munir in August 2013.
The act, however, faces uncertainties mainly due to protests by bus transport owners and workers under the shelter of shipping minister Shajahan Khan.
Mr Khan is also the executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.
Sources said many lawmakers apprehend that the passage of the law will affect drivers, workers and owners who play a vital role in winning polls.
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