Workers leader and former minister Shajahan Khan has expressed fear that the Road Transport Act-2018, which is taking effect on November 1, may invite problems as the law has been enacted ignoring the recommendations of transport owners and workers.
He said the draft of the law was formulated based on opinions of stakeholders including transport owners and workers, intellectuals and experts, but when it was enacted many suggestions were dropped.
“If the law is implemented without accommodating the recommendations of transport owners and workers, their concern may turn into problems,” he said in an exclusive interview with Barta24.com on Wednesday.
The government has enacted the Road Transport Act-2018 to replace the age-old Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1983. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and law enforcement agencies have completed all preparations to enforce it from November 1.
In the interview given at Sangsad Bhaban, Shajahan, also the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Liberation War Affairs Ministry, spoke of different aspects of the law.
He said the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1983 was promulgated with some amendments to the 1939 ordinance, accommodating some recommendations of Transport Workers Federation.
“However, no fundamental changes were made to the law. We’ve long been saying that Bangladesh needs a time-befitting law. The transport situations in 1939 and now are not same,” he added.
Highlighting the discrepancies between the draft and the law, the former shipping minister said the statute has stipulated that transport owners will give workers appointment letter, but in practice they are not giving it.
“We recommended action against those who won’t give appointment letter. But the law hasn’t specified what punishment will be awarded. The three ministers agreed that the owner not giving appointment letter will face a fine of Tk 5,000,” he said.
“The law provides for three years in jail and Tk 3 lakh in fine for overloading. We said it’s illogical. We suggested one-year jail and Tk 1 lakh fine.”
Referring to the provision of the law that one has to pass minimum eighth grade to be a driver and fifth grade to be a conductor, the worker leader said, anyone can be a good driver through long-time practice.
“But how he will secure an academic certificate? That’s why we said the academic qualification has to be relaxed and the committee accepted it,” he said.
He, however, agreed that no illiterate person should not be given driving licence as the literacy rate in the country has increased.