Traffic rules continued to be violated on the second day of enforcement of Road Transport Act, 2018. The photograph of different vehicles blocking pedestrians’ movement through the zebra crossing was taken from Shantinagar in the city on Saturday — FE photo As the Road Transport Act (RTA) 2018 entered into force on November 01, transport leaders demanded on Saturday quick formulation of rules before full enforcement of the law.
They also called for amending some provisions after reviewing the law to make it acceptable to all.
"We appreciate that RTA has finally come into being by abolishing the British-era law. But street-users should be aware of its misuse," said Khandakar Enayet Ullah.
Mr Enayet, secretary general of Road Transport Owners Association of Bangladesh, placed the demand at a media briefing at their office.
Mashiur Rahman Ranga, president of the association, also spoke on the occasion.
The association asked all transport owners to abide by the new law but it found many sections in RTA which cannot be executed immediately.
Mr Ranga, also chief whip of the opposition party in parliament, demanded an extensive campaign at different stages to make people aware of the law. He said RTA has good features like bringing pedestrians and others, apart from transport players, under the law.
But he called for looking into the matters of using the law with an ulterior motive and harassment of transport owners and workers.
Citing sections 302 and 304(kha), Mr Ranga said accident cases should be filed under section 304(kha) and shifted to section 302 only a driver has intentionally killed anyone.
Mr Enayet highlighted sections 84, 98 and 104 that restrict bail for offences like overloading.
He said the association supports the demand of transport workers considering reality of the country.
The secretary demanded that accident cases be made bailable and punishment be reduced along with fines as the non-bail option would intensify both driver and transport crises.
Citing more examples of private car drivers, users and pedestrians, he said all have to know about the law and be sensitised before its full implementation.
The leaders said the association has been conducting different awareness programmes to make drivers and workers aware of wrongdoings. But extensive awareness programme by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and law-enforcement agencies are crucially important, they added.
Mr Enayet said, "Accident is not desirable, but we expect that whenever an accident occurs, it would get a proper investigation."
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