Dope Test of Transport Workers: BRTA forms committee
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) yesterday formed a committee to implement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's directive to bring public transport workers under a dope testing system.
The nine-member committee, led by BRTA's director (administration), was asked to submit a report within seven working days, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder told The Daily Star last night.
The committee would have representatives from Police Headquarters, Highway Police, transport owners, workers, health and narcotics departments, he said.
The decision came at a meeting called yesterday at BRTA head office, with leaders of transport owners and workers, along with police officials.
The committee would determine the methodology to conduct dope tests, places, and relevant issues and next course of action would be set following their report, the BRTA chairman said.
Meanwhile, transport leaders demanded that the authorities conduct the test on transport workers free of cost.
Speaking on October 22 at an event marking National Road Safety Day, PM Hasina directed authorities to bring drivers under dope testing system.
"We need to know whether those who are driving [vehicles] use drugs. They need to undergo dope testing. This test is absolutely essential for each driver. You must do it," she said.
The premier gave several other directives on the occasion.
On October 27, the Road Transport and Highway Division held a meeting with chiefs of agencies concerned to discuss how to implement the directives, and BRTA was asked to call a meeting over this issue, sources said.
Experts and transport leaders consider drug addiction one of the major reasons behind road accidents. They say in order to ensure road safety, dope testing is important so no one under influence of narcotics or alcohol can be behind the steering wheel.
Transport leaders Khondaker Enayet Ullah, Osman Ali, Mahbubur Rahman, among others were present at the meeting.
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