Road Transport Act unlikely before next nat'l election

There is no possibility to get the Road Transport Act (RTA) passed by parliament before the next national election, said sources.
But it is necessary to pass and implement the much-talked act to bring discipline in the country's chaotic road transport sector, said experts concerned.
The fate of the act has become uncertain, as it has been shelved at the Ministry of Law (MoL), although work has been done on it for more than five years.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) sent the draft act to the MoL for vetting in April 2017 for replacing the decades old Motor Vehicle Ordinance with it.
The sources said many lawmakers apprehend that passing the law before the next election would affect the votes of drivers, workers and owners of the transport sector, who can play a significant role in winning polls.
The new act was drafted incorporating some provisions for punishment for drivers, workers and bus owners, as they are held responsible for most of road accidents across the country.
But the ministry finalised the draft withdrawing the provision of death penalty to the drivers responsible for fatal road accidents amid pressure from various quarters.
Instead, it referred to Bangladesh Penal Code for trial in the accident-related cases.
The MoRTB started drafting RTA in early 2012, but was able to finalise it in March 2017 after taking suggestions from the cabinet, and sent the draft act to the MoL in April 2017 for vetting.
The MoRTB held a series of meetings with the stakeholders and in inter-ministerial stages to accommodate the recommendations in the draft during the last four years.
The draft with the provision of punishment was accepted by various stakeholders like transport experts and civil society members, sources said.
But the MoL held another inter-ministerial meeting following pressure from transport owners and workers.
They opposed the provision of punishable actions and fines against the law violators in the MoRTB-drafted act.
As per the decision of the meeting, the MoL formed a committee, led by the law secretary, to get a fresh report on the draft act.
An official said no effort has been taken to finalise the draft act based on the committee report.
"It is still at the policy level," he added.
It is learnt that the ministry is unwilling to work further on the act before the upcoming election due to pressure from an important minister of the government.
Hundreds of people die in road accidents across the country every year due to reckless driving, unskilled drivers at the steering and unfit vehicles, according to transport experts.

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