Modern Road Transport Act in the offing: Anisul

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Wedbesday said the much waited Road Transport Act will be a modern law covering many aspects which were never addressed before, reports BSS.

“For a long time, road accidents have been going up. We tried to find out the reasons behind this. We tried to identify whether the incidents are occurring because of road condition, lack of vehicle fitness, movements of pedestrians, absence of enough provisions in the act to check such and whether there is any other loophole,” he said.

The minister was talking to newsmen about the proposed act at his ministry office this noon. He informed the newsmen that the vetting has been completed and the proposed act is scheduled to be placed before the cabinet meeting next Monday for its approval.

Replying a question on why the vetting on the act has been completed by his ministry only after the recent road accident on the airport road that left two college students dead and shook the country, the minister said the matter was completely coincidental.

“Look, I lost my wife in a similar incident in 1991. So, I know very well how the families of the deceased are feeling right now. From my personal experience, I can say I am very much saddened by that incident. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government will do everything needed to ensure that such things don’t repeat in future,” Anisul added.

“In many countries, when a driver makes a mistake he loses some points based on the gravity of his mistake. When he loses all his 12 points, his driving license gets canceled for life. We too have kept a provision like this. We have to make sure that none receives punishment harsher compared to his crime and none can get away with lenient punishment after committing bigger crimes,” the law minister further said.

Anisul, who is much respected for his comment on judicial matters, said the matter of swift trial has also been kept in the act.

“You all know I always keep my promise. I can promise you that when the case will go to court after investigation, I will make sure swift trial by talking to the prosecution. All the stakeholders will get justice from the act. I think the provision of punishment which is there for deaths in road accident, is appropriate,” the law minister said.