Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday rejected calls by transport owners to amend the Road Transport Act, saying there are no scope of amendment before the next election slated for January next year.
Quader's remarks came as he heavily criticised transport owners for non-cooperation, running old and dilapidated buses, overloading and reckless driving.
"Is there any scope for any change or correction to the act at this moment? … The next elected government will consider all demands, as some of them are logical and legitimate," Quader told stakeholders at a discussion meeting at the Osmani Auditorium.
Aiming at restoring discipline in country's road transportation system, the Road Transport Act was passed in 2018. However, the law has not been fully implemented even after five years, while the government lessened the punishments for reckless driving and road fatalities, and softened the law in favour of transport owners.
Moreover, 20-year-old and unfit buses could not be taken off the roads despite the stipulation in the law. Meanwhile, transport owners have been pressing the authorities for amendments of the law, which many believe would favour them eventually by compromising the overal road safety.
Acknowledging that some demands for amendment are legitimate, the minister urged the transport owners to limit the time of the drivers and allow rest to check road accidents.
He also said that running locally motorised three-wheelers such as easybikes, Nosimon, Karimun and shabby and worn out buses (jalopies) on the streets could not be stopped due to non-cooperation from public representatives, who show excuses "like drivers are poor people", or "vote politics".
Quader sought cooperation from the transport sector's associates, as he said the traffic system, transports, mental, and behavioral pattern of street users and operators do not go with the country's bright image of economic growth.
"[Buses] completely worn out and dilapidited, but they have 'driving in the name of Allah' written on the bodies. These buses end up into ditches or flipped over on road medians. I want to question the owners, how these buses move in Dhaka city?"
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) organised the discussion with stakeholders as part of its observance of National Road Safety Day. Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri was also present as a special guest.
The secretary urged the transport owners, workers and pedestrians to respect traffic laws for their own safety and to help reduce accidents. He said it was very sad to see the data on road fatalities at the end of each day.
smunima@yahoo.com