BRTC driver found guilty

The probe body formed on the road accident of journalist Nikhil Bhadra, following which he lost a leg, has recommended punishment for the driver of the BRTC bus that ran him over on December 28.
Submitted to acting communications secretary MAN Siddique yesterday, the report also recommended sending the senior reporter of Bangla daily Kaler Kantha abroad for better treatment and arranging a job for his wife.
Meanwhile, BSS quoting Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed the communications ministry to take all necessary arrangements on an urgent basis for sending the journalist abroad to ensure his best treatment.”
The BRTC bus with driver Sohel Rana hit the 38-year-old journalist when he was crossing Topkhana Road in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Later, doctors at National Orthopaedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute amputated his right leg from the knee. He is still undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Headed by Joint Secretary of the communications ministry Main Uddin, the probe body also recommended for increasing punishment from three years to 10 years for drivers found guilty of accidents, fixing minimum educational qualification Class V for drivers and checking authenticity of driving licence.
It also called for setting up speed breakers on both sides of the road in front of the Press Club, completing construction work of the foot over-bridge there immediately and evicting the unauthorised shops and establishments on its either side.
The other members of the probe body are Bangladesh Road Transport Authority directors SM Faysol Alam and Tapon Kumar Sarker, Additional Police Commission (traffic) of Dhaka South Zone Jayedul Alam and President of Dhaka Reporters' Unity Shakhawat Hossain Badsha.