Increase number of vehicle fitness testing centres: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to set up more fitness testing centres across the country in two months to examine fitness of public transports.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order during hearing a writ petition filed in July 2018. The bench fixed November 23 for passing further order, petitioner Tanvir Ahmed told The Daily Star.

Tanvir, also a Supreme Court lawyer, said he argued before the HC that the number of vehicle fitness testing centres is very inadequate in the country and therefore, fitness of transports cannot be tested properly and adequately.

There are maximum 70 centres in the country for testing fitness of around 40 lakh vehicles, he said. The lawyer said the number of fitness testing has to be increased to reduce road accidents.

Citing a survey report prepared by an expert committee formed under an HC order issued on July 31, 2018, Tanvir said 33 percent transports of the country are unfit although many of them have fitness certificates.

BRTA's lawyer Md Rafiul Islam told the HC that his client has already floated a tender for setting up 12 more centres.

Following the same petition, another HC bench on July 31, 2018 directed the government to constitute a national independent inquiry committee, including at least 15 experts, to conduct a survey on the fitness of public motor vehicles to avoid road accidents and  submit the survey report to this court.