Body to propose changes to Road Transport Act

A committee working on the implementation of the Road Transport Act-2018 is set to put forward its recommendations to amend the act to remove inconsistencies.
At a meeting on Wednesday, the committee, formed by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), decided to propose three changes to the act, sources said.

It, however, could not take any decision on the issue of non-bailable offences relating to road accident cases, although the transport leaders have been demanding that all offences under the law be made 'bailable'.
The committee will sit again to finalise its report and recommendations to be submitted to the NRSC, the meeting decided, according to the sources.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan chaired the meeting held at the home ministry's conference room in the city. Law Minister Anisul Huq and Railway Minister Mohammad Nurul Islam Sujon attended the meeting.
Former shipping minister Shajahan Khan, former state minister for local government Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Road Transport and Highways Division secretary Nazrul Islam and transport workers' union leader Osman Ali were also present.
After the meeting, the ministers declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting.
When asked, the law minister said the NRSC would disclose the recommendations.
"Our task is to find obstacles standing in the way of implementation of the act and submit a report to the NRSC with recommendations for possible solutions," he told the FE.
He also said it is the NRSC chairman who will decide on the acceptance of the recommendations.
Mashiur Rahman Ranga, however, said no major changes were recommended by the committee.
It has recommended adding some terms such as 'bus conductor' considering them as staff of the bus, he added.
Ranga, also a leader of covered van owners' association, said no change has been recommended for punishment- and educational qualification-related clauses.
At a meeting on February 17, the NRSC formed two committees to recommend how to implement the RTA 2018. One of the committees comprises home, law and railway ministers.
The committees were formed in the wake of protests by transport owners and workers against some clauses of the RTA, including those related to non-bailable offences and punishment.
The other committee headed by labour leader Shajahan Khan has already placed 111 recommendations for ensuring road safety.
The committee on RTA implementation sat three times since its formation.
When asked about the decision on transport workers' demand for provision of bail, Mashiur Rahman said the meeting agreed to go for the practices being exercised in neighbouring countries.
The labour leaders demanded that all offences related to road accidents under the law be made bailable, he said.

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