The high-level government panel led by former Shajahan Khan to bring order to roads has submitted its report to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Led by Khan, whose remarks and actions on road safety sparked widespread criticism in the past, the members of the 15-strong committee handed over its recommendations to prevent road crashes and discipline the runaway transport sector to the prime minister at his official residence the Ganabhaban on Sunday (Apr 28), reports BSS.
National Road Transport Owners Association president and Jatiya Party Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga, noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud and Nirapad Sarak Chai Chairman actor Ilias Kanchan were present among others.
The government formed the committee on Feb 17, but experts then questioned the move to include people involved with transport organizations in the panel.
They said then several panels were formed over the issue, which had made recommendations and the job now was to implement those rather than forming a new committee, that too with people from the transport sector who are often blamed for the indiscipline.
A ruling MP and Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation Executive President, Shajahan had Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association President Mashiur Rahman Ranga, a Jatiya Party leader, in the committee as a member.
The body Shajahan leads is the umbrella for over 200 transport unions across the country, representing more than 6 million workers.
Four other members of the panel are also involved in the transport sector — Workers’ Federation General Secretary Osman Ali, Owners’ Association General Secretary Khandaker Enayet Ullah and two representatives from the bodies of truck owners and workers.
The committee also included prominent road safety campaigner and former movie star Ilias Kanchan and writer and researcher Syed Abdul Maksud.
Representatives from BRTA, Roads and Highways Department, Accident Research Institute (ARI) at Buet, BRAC, Highway Police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police were also on the panel.
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