Road Transport Bill 2018 tabled in Parliament

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 22:29, Sep 13, 2018 | Updated : 22:33, Sep 13, 2018

On Aug 6, the Cabinet cleared the draft law in the wake of student movement for road safety after two college students were killed in a road accident. FILE PHOTOThe Road Transport Bill, 2018 has been placed in Parliament on Thursday to replace the existing Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader placed the bill in the House and it was sent to the respective scrutiny committee for further examination. The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
On Aug 6, the Cabinet cleared the draft law in the wake of student movement for road safety after two college students were killed in a road accident.
In March last year, the cabinet approved gave its initial clearance to the Road Transport Act but it remained shelved at the law ministry for vetting amid opposition from transport owners and workers to some of its provisions.
The maximum punishment would be death penalty in case of intentional murder by driving as per the bill.
The new law will introduce point system against driving license. A total of 12 points will remain allocated against each driving license and the points will be curtailed for every offence such as violating red light signal and reckless overtaking.
In case of zero point the license will be cancelled, he said adding that the point system is there in many developed countries.
The driving licence can be cancelled, withdrawn or suspended in case of illness, insanity, physical and mental incapability, taking alcohol, habitual crimes or any other reason under the clause-12 of the proposed law.
The minimum educational qualification for having a driving licence is class-VIII in the clause-6 of the proposed law.
The law also has provision of a financial assistance fund to provide compensation or medical expense to the victims or victim families of road accidents.
A trusty board, led by a chairman, will maintain the fund. The victims will get compensation or medical treatment costs as fixed by the trusty board.
The working hours for drivers, helpers-cum-cleaners and conductors will be fixed through the government gazette notification keeping consistency with the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and the employers will have to follow it.
As per the proposed law, the maximum punishment for driving without driving licence or driving motorized vehicle without fitness are six-month imprisonment or Tk 25,000 as fine or both.
According to the bill, the maximum punishment for driving unregistered motorized vehicles is six-month imprisonment or Tk 50,000 as fine or both.

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