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The government has suspended effectiveness of the vehicles' economic life policy within two and a half months after its introduction due to flaws in it, and amid objections by the stakeholders concerned.
Roads Transport and Highways Division in a circular on Thursday last suspended the policy with immediate effect.
Earlier in a circular issued on May 17, 2023, The RTHD had fixed 20 years of economic life for goods carrying vehicles, including trucks, and 25 years for covered vans as per section 36 of the Road Transport Act.
Since the announcement, sources said, the RTHD has been facing pressure from various quarters like vehicles' owners who are always reluctant to follow the definition of economic life of their vehicles.
However, official sources said, the first circular was issued without defining the economic life of different types of vehicles, and consequently the circular was suspended for the time being.
They added that apart from trucks and covered vans, the country has tank lorries, trailers, etc.
RTHD Secretary Amin Ullah Nuri told the FE that the life of all other vehicles was not defined properly in the circular, prompting them to keep the circular suspended. They are now working on the matter.
He said a committee has already been formed with the Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) as its convenor and representatives from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and different other agencies.
"The economic life of all types of goods-laden vehicles cannot be similar. So there is a gap in the first circular. So the committee has been asked to address all kinds of vehicles and study accordingly to recommend us for the correct economic life for each kind of vehicle," he added.