Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Transport workers of some more south western (SW) districts kept buses and other passenger vehicles off the roads Monday protesting the new transport act that came into effect on the previous day.
The sudden strike caught thousands of passengers off guard. They could not travel to their desired destinations because of the workers' strike.
However, barring the deployment of eight mobile courts in Dhaka and in one or two other places by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), there were no serious efforts on the part of the relevant authorities, including the traffic police, to enforce the new act on Monday.
On-duty traffic police in Dhaka said they are yet to receive any direction from their higher authorities on the application of the law.
Mobile courts conducted drives at Manik Mia Avenue, Kakoli, Uttara, Darussalam, Sayedabad and Dhaka-Sylhet highway areas.
During the drives, the courts filed 88 cases on various charges under the new transport law and slapped fines worth Tk 121,900 on errant drivers.
Traffic rule violations in Dhaka were committed as usual on the day; buses did ply in haphazard manner and pedestrians also gave a damn to traffic rules while crossing the busy city roads. Illegal parking and inoperative signal system were also noticed on almost all the city streets.
But witnesses said the number of vehicles including buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were comparatively low in the city on Monday.
Transport workers enforced strike in different districts including Khulna, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Jhenidah and Satkhira demanding amendment to the new act. Bus movement between Jashore and 18 routes remained suspended from Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at a press briefing held at the conference room of his ministry on Monday sought cooperation from all including striking transport workers in regard to enforcement of the new act.
He said strict rules have been incorporated in the RTA for legitimate reasons and for the sake of welfare and safety of all.
The minister said RTA 2018 has many good elements for making it acceptable to all. He said apart from bus drivers, transport owners have been made accountable under it. There is also the provision for financial assistance to accident victims and protection against environmental hazards.
Quader, also general secretary of the ruling party, said the law enforcement agencies have been asked to implement the act up to a 'reasonable' level at the beginning for avoiding public harassment.
"We have given directives to make the general people aware of the act and not to subject them to harassment," he said.
Mr Quader further said the rules on RTA will be ready within a few days.
"Despite opposition, we have to execute the road transport act for the sake of safety and discipline on the streets," he said calling upon the common people to abide by the act in their own interest.
BRTA Mobile Court Magistrate Mohammad Mazharul Islam told the FE that on the first day, minimum fines were imposed against vehicles plying without fitness, insurance, route permit and overloading.
He said the aim of the drive conducted by the court is mainly to make people conscious, not to punish them in a harsh way.
While conducting the drives at Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Postogola, Gandaria and Rayerbagh, the court fined drivers Tk 52,000 and dumped one 'leguna', he added.