Proposed road transport law amendment  to increase anarchy on roads: TIB

The amendments proposed in the draft Road Transport (Amendment) Act, 2024, will worsen anarchy on the roads and make the transport sector more unsafe, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) stated on Thursday (28 March).

The civil society organisation voiced serious concerns over the proposed reduction of jail terms and fines in the law, emphasising that amendments lacking consideration for public interest would veer the law away from its core objectives, further tightening the grip of owners and workers on the road transport system.

However, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman cautiously praised some provisions in the draft, including compulsory vehicle insurance, assigning supervisors, and displaying fare charts with penalties for demanding or collecting extra fares. These three specific amendments are in line with TIB's research-based recommendations.

In a statement, the watchdog noted, "Despite the optimistic inception of the Road Transport Act 2018 following protests by students, its implementation remains far from reality, leading to a surge in street anarchy, lawlessness, and insecurity."

The cabinet on 13 March gave in principle approved the draft of Road Transport (Amendment) Act, 2024, reducing punishments under various sections, including irregularities in driving licence issuance.

Citing media reports, the TIB said the draft Road Transport (Amendment) Act, 2024, includes amendments to at least 12 sections, resulting in a reduction in punishments and penalties for drivers and helpers.

"While it was crucial to logically increase punishments and penalties to establish order in the road transport system and ensure citizens' safety, any decrease in penalties through the amendment will worsen chaos on the roads and pose a greater risk to the public," said Iftekharuzzaman.

Furthermore, he said the amendments will encourage a tendency to break laws among drivers and workers, leading to further disorder on the roads.

He noted that despite the government's apparent initiatives to improve road safety, the proposed amendments seem to go against these efforts.