Govt plans action against violators of rules

It was decided at an inter-ministerial meeting at the ministry of communication yesterday.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will cancel licences of the vehicles and take punitive actions against the violators.

The meeting also decided to form a road safety fund to compensate the family of victims and injured in the road accidents.

The transport owners at the meeting said they hardly get insurance money from the companies after an accident though they pay the premium regularly.

The fund will be run by a trustee board and money will be given on the basis of requirements to the victims family members and injured.

The meeting was told that the BRTA could not stop emitting black smoke from the vehicles due to non-cooperation of the police forces.

Communication Minister Nazmul Huda presided over the meeting.

Huda asked the police to cooperate with the BRTA and intensify drive against the vehicles emitting black smoke.

The meeting also asked the Dhaka City Corporation to take action against illegal rickshaws plying on the city streets.

There are 79,600 registered rickshaws in the capital, but the number of rickshaws plying on the city streets will be over five lakh, the meeting was told.

The meeting lauded the move to stop plying of non-motorised vehicles on the road from Science Laboratory crossing to Bangabazar. The DCC will take steps to stop plying of non-motorised vehicles from other major roads in the city gradually, the meeting was told.

Communication Secretary Shafiqul Islam, leaders of Transport Owners' Association, BRTA Chairman Dr M A Momen, Principle Abdur Rashid, Dr M R Khan, actor Ilias Kanchan and representatives from police and other agencies concerned were present at the meeting.