Road Transport Act: We didn’t fully implement it due to ground reality: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday claimed the government took necessary preparations to execute Road Transport Act-2018, but did not enforce several sections of the act considering “the reality on the ground”. 

Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, said they are scrutinising the demands of transport leaders to amend some sections of the law. They will consider if the demands are “rational and just”.

He was speaking at a press briefing at his secretariat office on contemporary issues, but it was dominated by questions on the new act.

The authorities started to enforce the road transport act on November 17, two weeks after the law came into effect on paper.

However, transport workers in response went on strikes in different districts from the following day, while truck workers and owners called an indefinite strike on November 19, demanding amendments to the law.

The strikes were later called off  after the home minister assured them that they will not be penalised for violations of several key sections of the act regarding licence, fitness, parking and medication until June next year.

When asked about the long deadline, Quader said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal took the “rational” decisions following discussions with stakeholders and considering the actual reality.

“We didn’t backtrack on implementing the law…We have taken a soft stance on several issues [of the act], considering public interest and the actual reality,” he said while replying to a query.  

Quader said before enacting the law, they had necessary discussions with stakeholders for three years, and the law is not an outcome of student agitation for safe roads last year.