Tuku blames past govts for road sector chaos

State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku yesterday blamed the previous governments for the existing indiscipline in the road traffic sector.
“If all the sectors in the country had been run in a proper, disciplined-manner during the last forty years since Bangladesh's independence, road safety would have been automatically ensured by this time,” he said.
Tuku was addressing as chief guest a seminar, “Fit driver, safe road”, jointly organised by Community Care Service, Bondhu Protidin Chikitshok Committee and Sandhani in Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Emphasising social awareness to reduce road accidents, he said the ministries of communication, home, shipping, and local government and rural development & co-operatives would jointly start raising public awareness from next month.
Safe political atmosphere and safe democracy are very essential for road safety, he said.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Mozibur Rahman Fakir suggested annual check-ups for drivers be made mandatory and blamed corruption by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority for the sector's indiscipline.
Film actor Ilias Kanchan reiterated his demand for the government to declare October 22 as “National Road Safety Day”.