Stop plying unfit vehicles, unhealthy race on roads: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to stop plying unfit vehicles and their unhealthy race on the roads to avert road accidents.

She issued the directives while addressing a discussion as the chief guest at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh (KIB) Auditorium at Farmgate in the capital on Tuesday morning, reports BSS.

“The mentality of earning some money by fixing the vehicles somehow will have to be discarded,” the premier said.

Road Transport and Highways Division arranged the discussion on the occasion of the National Road Safety Day-2019.

Sheikh Hasina also reiterated her call to all concerned including pedestrians and drivers to properly follow traffic rules to avoid road accidents.

“We don’t want anybody to die or to be crippled in any road crash … that’s why we want safe road system along with peace and discipline persists,” she said.

The prime minister said the traffic police will always have to stay alert so that the unfit vehicles cannot ply the roads. 

She added that the uncontrolled speed of the vehicles will have to be controlled by fixing their speed limit on roads.

Sheikh Hasina also said the footpaths will have to be freed from encroachment and parking of vehicles here and there will have to be stopped so that the people can move without hassle.

Pointing to the owners of the vehicles, the PM said arangements for alternative drivers will also have to be made for long distance vehicles.

Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on speedy implementation of the Road Transport Act-2018 for road safety. 

The prime minister said her government has taken steps to build rest rooms beside the highways for the passengers and drivers. 

In this regard, Sheikh Hasina urged the private sector to take initiatives for setting up restaurants beside the highways, saying that it will create a scope for their business alongside ensuring rest of the passengers and drivers.

The prime minister said there should have an arrangement for teaching traffic rules in every school. 

“We have formulated the National Road Safety Strategic Action Plan 2017-20, while the SDG Action Plan has been prepared and is being implemented in accordance with the road safety related targets,” she said.

The prime minister said the government has set up a National Road Safety Council aimed at building a safe road network in Bangladesh. 

Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken a project to train 1 lakh new drivers. 

She continued saying on: “We’re setting up Vehicle Inspection Centers and Driving Training Centers in 17 districts.”

Agreeing with the proposal of actor Iliyas Kanchan, the pioneer of the safe road movement in the country, an arrangement of proper training of the all kinds of drivers, the prime minister said her government wants to make such an arrangement up to the upazila level.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader presided over the function, while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Road Transport and Bridges Ministry Ekabbor Hossain and Executive President of Road Transport Workers Federation Shajahan Khan, MP, took part in the discussion.

Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md Nazrul Islam delivered the welcome address and Chairman of “Nirapad Sarak Chai” campaign actor Iliyas Kanchan and Secretary General of Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity Khandakar Enayetullah also spoke.