Three-wheelers will not be banned on highways

The government will not ban accident-prone vehicles and battery-run easy bikes on the highway before the upcoming national election considering the negative impact it may have on voter turnout.

The issue was discussed in a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of road, transport and bridges earlier. The contents of that meeting were placed in the form of minutes in yesterday's meeting of the committee and approved by the Jatiya Sangsad body.

According to the meeting minutes, committee member and ruling Awami League MP Abu Zahid had raised the topic of banning locally made nosimon and korimon and battery-run easy bikes.

He called for the active participation of the deputy commissioners and police department to stop the plying of such accident-prone vehicles on highways.

In response, Obaidul Quader, the road transport and bridges minister, said: "We must refrain from taking such steps before the elections. Pubic representatives also do not want nosimon and korimon."

Quader expressed hope that necessary measures will be taken in this regard after getting everyone's cooperation and if the party comes to power again.

Several times before, the JS body had recommended banning those vehicles from the highway.

Three-wheelers, including those illegal and locally made, and motorcycles were involved in 59.49 percent of road deaths in 2022, according to Road Safety Foundation.

Bikes contributed to 37.78 percent of the deaths and three-wheelers 21.71 percent, its data shows.

There are 30-40 lakhs of three-wheelers and motorcycles, according to sector insiders.

Rowshan Ara Mannan, chairman of the JS body and Jatiya Party MP, presided over the meeting.