Law Commission chief for harsher penalties to stop road accidents

Law Commission Chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque has said harsher punishment is needed to stop road accidents, reports bdnews24.com.

The former chief justice told reporters after a meeting with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Monday that the traffic law should be changed and enforced strictly.

Justice Haque expressed dismay at the apparent lawlessness on the street, given the way the accidents were occurring nowadays.

"One vehicle is ramming another! People are losing arms, legs. Heads are smashed! A civilised country cannot continue like this," he said.

Justice Haque said besides traffic law, they discussed laws on the financial dispute, arbitration, and preventing repression of women and children.

His remarks came a day after transport workers' leader Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said "toughening the law would not help stop such accidents."

"I don't agree with the theory that harsher punishment will cut accidents.

If that was true, there could not be any murder," the minister said, noting that the maximum punishment for murder is a death sentence. Justice Haque, however, differed. "I think traffic law needs change," he said.