Review hefty fines for road crashes: Transport owners, workers
Leaders of road transport owners and workers today urged the higher courts to review their recent orders imposing compensations for road accident victims.
If the courts continue to impose fine in such ways in road accident cases, transport owners and workers will have to consider leaving the sector, said Shajahan Khan, executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said these while reading out “opinions” of transport owners and workers at a meeting.
The ruling party lawmaker compared the situation of transport section with “Great Danger Signal no. 10” as he referred to the cyclonic storm Fani which is likely to hit Bangladesh tomorrow.
Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, Bangladesh Bus Truck Owners Association, Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners Association and Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation joined the meeting at Mohanagar Natya Mancha in Dhaka.
The meeting was called to discuss about different problems which surfaced in transport sector recently. However, most of the leaders talked about the imposition of compensation by High Court in connection with cases of road accident. Some of them criticised media and participants of talk shows.
Road transport leaders came with the demands at a time when road accidents have become a major issue in the country, especially since last year’s massive students’ protests for safer roads.
Shajahan Khan, also former shipping minister, said the higher courts in several cases in connection with road accidents ordered transport owners and workers to give “crores of Taka compensation” and several such cases are now pending.
"It has become impossible for us to pay the hefty amount that is being imposed as fine. We are surprised and anxious at these orders," he said, reading out from a written speech.
He mentioned court orders in connection with six road accidents that claimed lives, among others, of noted renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker Tareque Masud, Titumir College student Rajib Hossain, private university student Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury.
He said Tk 3.52 crore compensation has been imposed in connection of death of one Mozammel Hossain Mantu in road accident, Tk 4.61 crore in connection with the death of Tareque Masud, Tk 1 crore for Rajib’s death, Tk 10 lakh for Abrar and Tk 50 lakh for a road accident involving Green Line bus where one Rashel Saker lost his leg.
Another case of a Sylhet road crash is now pending where family members of one the eight victims sought TK 13.22 crore compensation, he added.
“Being inspired by such verdicts of those cases, those affected by road accidents are going to higher courts,” he added.
Shajahan said they found leaving the section as better option if they have to sell vehicle, moveable and non-moveable properties to pay the compensation and have to face execution.
He urged the courts to review their orders in all these cases. He also urged the chief justice to consider so that nobody is deprived of justice.
He said they would oblige any punishment to the guilty persons if it goes with the law and given after proper and impartial investigation.
Mashiur Rahman Ranga, president of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, said the transport sector is facing worst time in recent memories.
Ranga, also a Jatiya Party lawmaker, said that although Prime Minister is with them but several ministers talk negative things about the transport sector.
He said the judges have to think how a driver with an income of Tk 10000 monthly, would be able to give such hefty compensation.
Khondaker Enayet Ullah, general secretary of the association said, in many cases huge amount of fine is imposed even after all documents are found correct.
Some recent incidents have made them anxious and if such situation prevail, none will come to invest in this sector.
Romesh Chandra Ghosh, chairman of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners' Association, Sadiqur Rahman Hiru and Abdur Rahim Box Dudu, senior vice presidents of the federation also spoke while federation’s general secretary Osman Ali moderated the programme.
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