Hopefully, it’s just a rumour: Ilias Kanchan
The government should immediately start implementing the Road Transport Act 2018, without making any amendment, to restore discipline in the transport sector, said Ilias Kanchan, chairman of Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa), yesterday.
Mentioning a recent “rumour” about amending the act, the road safety campaigner said it already failed to deliver on some of their expectations. If the act is amended “to serve purpose of a particular group”, it will be against public interest.
He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club. Nischa organised the event to announce its month-long programmes for upcoming National Road Safety Day on October 22.
“I became panicked and concerned after hearing about the amendment. A year has already passed, but the act is yet to be implemented,” said Kanchan, who has been carrying out rigorous road safety campaigns since the tragic demise of his wife in a road crash in 1993.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader recently said that they have no plan to amend the act.
“We have become hopeful after hearing the minister’s remarks. So, we are taking it [the amendment] as a rumour,” Kanchan added. “The government should formulate rules for the act immediately and start implementing it. Don’t scrap anything for a particular group,” the Nischa founder urged.
The act was supposed to be passed in 2012, but it did not happen due to “influence of a group”, he added. The government finally approved the act last year, following students’ movement for safe roads.
This road safety act has created hope among people that it will bring discipline in the sector, Kanchan said. “This ray of hope should not be diminished.”
Among others, Nischa Secretary General Syed Ehsanul Haque Kamal, Joint Secretary General Liton Ershad and Advisor AHM Noman spoke at the press conference.
On the occasion of National Road Safety Day, Nischa will organise various awareness campaigns, rallies, discussions and training workshops across the country throughout the month.
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