Keep highways free of locally made vehicles

The High Court yesterday ordered the government to withdraw locally made people carrier -- Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti -- from highways in 10 districts within a week to reduce road accidents.
The districts are Jessore, Khulna, Jhenaidah, Magura, Meherpur, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Narail, Kushtia and Chuadanga.
In response to a petition, the court also issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to stop plying of these vehicles.
It also asked the authorities concerned to explain why they should not be ordered to follow the provisions of Motor Vehicle Ordinance -1983, in giving licence to vehicles to run on roads.
The petition was filed following media reports about illegal running of these people carriers.
The HC also asked them to submit a report after complying with the order in two weeks, Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman told The Daily Star.
The bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Md Habibul Gani gave the order and issued the rule after hearing the petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh on February 9.
During the hearing, petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told the court that many lives were lost and properties worth crores of taka damaged in road accidents due to these unfit vehicles.
These vehicles were illegal, as they did not have fitness licence, he argued.
Home secretary, finance secretary, inspector general of police (IGP), deputy IGP (highways), joint commissioner (traffic), Bangladesh Road Transport Authority chairman, and superintendents of police of the 10 districts had been made respondents to the rule.

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