Form independent body to survey vehicle fitness: HC

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to form a national independent enquiry committee with at least 15 experts to conduct a survey on the fitness of public motor vehicles to prevent road accidents across the country. It also asked the inquiry committee to submit a report before it within three months on the number of fit and unfit motor vehicles plying in the country after conducting a vehicle survey.

It asked secretaries of the transport & bridges ministry and the home affairs ministry, along with the chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), to immediately form the national committee and to submit the survey report within three months. In response to a public interest litigation (PIL), the HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal also issued a rule, asking the government to explain within in four weeks why its failure and inaction to monitor and ensure the fitness of motor vehicles should not be

declared illegal.

It also asked the government to explain why it should

not be directed to stop the plying of unfit vehicles and why its failure to keep such vehicles off the road should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the transport & bridges ministry and the

home affairs ministry, the BRTA chairman, the inspector general of police (IGP), and BRTA directors for road safety

and enforcement have been made respondents to the rule. They have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.

The HC bench came up with the directives and rule following a PIL filed by Supreme Court (SC) lawyer advocate Md Tanvir Ahmed, seeking necessary order on the matter.

The petition and the HC order came at a time when thousands of students have been blocking streets and several key points of Dhaka in demand of safe roads.

After the HC order, Tanvir told reporters that many vehicles do not have proper rear-view mirrors, brake lights, signal lights, and internal and external fitness—shortcomings that could cause fatal accidents. Citing Article 32 of the Constitution, he said nobody can be deprived of life without any legal procedure. In response to a query, the SC lawyer said he had told the High Court that many accidents take place due to lack of vehicle fitness. Lack of car fitness was the reason behind the accident that killed the filmmaker Tareque Masud and the cinematographer Mishuk Munier in August 2011, he argued.

Deputy attorney general Ekramul Haque Tutul represented the state.

Earlier, on July 9, Tanvir had sent a legal notice, asking the chairman of the BRTA to take adequate measures to stop the plying of unfit vehicles in order to prevent road accidents and ensure people’s safety. But the BRTA did not reply to the legal notice.  

“Hence, we have filed the writ petition with the HC, seeking its directives on the matter,” Tanvir said.

According to a report prepared by the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways, at least 2,471 people have so far been killed in road accidents this year.

Form independent body to survey vehicle fitness: HC

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to form a national independent enquiry committee with at least 15 experts to conduct a survey on the fitness of public motor vehicles to prevent road accidents across the country. It also asked the inquiry committee to submit a report before it within three months on the number of fit and unfit motor vehicles plying in the country after conducting a vehicle survey. It asked secretaries of the transport bridges ministry and the home affairs ministry, along with the chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), to immediately form the national committee and to submit the survey report within three months. In response to a public interest litigation (PIL), the HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal also issued a rule, asking the government to explain within in four weeks why its failure and inaction to monitor and ensure the fitness of motor vehicles should not be declared illegal. It also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to stop the plying of unfit vehicles and why its failure to keep such vehicles off the road should not be declared illegal. Secretaries to the transport bridges ministry and the home affairs ministry, the BRTA chairman, the inspector general of police (IGP), and BRTA directors for road safety and enforcement have been made respondents to the rule. They have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks. The HC bench came up with the directives and rule following a PIL filed by Supreme Court (SC) lawyer advocate Md Tanvir Ahmed, seeking necessary order on the matter. The petition and the HC order came at a time when thousands of students have been blocking streets and several key points of Dhaka in demand of safe roads. After the HC order, Tanvir told reporters that many vehicles do not have proper rear-view mirrors, brake lights, signal lights, and internal and external fitnessshortcomings that could cause fatal accidents. Citing Article 32 of the Constitution, he said nobody can be deprived of life without any legal procedure. In response to a query, the SC lawyer said he had told the High Court that many accidents take place due to lack of vehicle fitness. Lack of car fitness was the reason behind the accident that killed the filmmaker Tareque Masud and the cinematographer Mishuk Munier in August 2011, he argued. Deputy attorney general Ekramul Haque Tutul represented the state. Earlier, on July 9, Tanvir had sent a legal notice, asking the chairman of the BRTA to take adequate measures to stop the plying of unfit vehicles in order to prevent road accidents and ensure peoples safety. But the BRTA did not reply to the legal notice. Hence, we have filed the writ petition with the HC, seeking its directives on the matter, Tanvir said. According to a report prepared by the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways, at least 2,471 people have so far been killed in road accidents this year.