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The authorities will keep BRTA under constant observation, he says
Published : 12 Jan 2025, 01:13 AM
Road Transport Advisor Faozul Kabir Khan has warned that the government will dissolve the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, or BRTA, if it fails to improve its services.
“The way BRTA officials and employees are behaving, it is not acceptable. Many government offices have been abolished and if there is no improvement in BRTA’s performance, we will think of shutting it down," he told the media after holding a meeting with BRTA members on road safety at its Banani office in Dhaka on Saturday.
The advisor said there had been “some improvement" in the agency’s performance, but “it had not reached a desirable level”.
"We will keep BRTA under continuous monitoring and will make a tough decision if it fails."
Faozul added that the agency had promised to improve its services and made some improvements in a month, but those were not “at an acceptable level”.
He spoke about BRTA’s various activities, including licences, fitness tests, and mobile court operations.
“ACCIDENTS ON RISE”
The advisor said the number of accidents on the streets has increased in Bangladesh, citing the Road Safety Foundation.
"The foundation recently provided us with information and data on road crashes. In the last year, 7,294 people have lost their lives in road accidents and more than 12,000 people were injured. That's an increase of 12 percent from the previous year.
“We have not been able to reduce road accidents, but the number of fatalities has increased, so we are taking responsibility for it."
Highlighting various measures taken to prevent crashes, he said: "We have directed all concerned to take immediate action in accordance with the law for the treatment of those injured or killed on the road.
"BRTA officials have been asked to reduce the number of accidents. The concerned BRTA officer will be held directly responsible for accidents involving unfit vehicles and any driver without a licence."
“DRIVING LICENCE PROCESS TO BE EASIER”
The advisor said the process of getting a driving licence is also being made easier.
"The current process of getting a driving licence in Bangladesh is very complicated. From now on, the licensing system will be made easier and more effective. Only those who can drive safely will be given a licence.”
Emphasising training programmes for drivers, he said: "We will provide training to drivers at BRTC, ACIP, police and other training schools. Apart from this, we will also arrange training in private institutions and make arrangements so that it has a quality standard."
He stressed the need for drivers to pass various tests before being granted a licence.
"We will also focus on eye and dope tests for drivers. Measures will be taken to ease the process of getting the licence for those who will pass these tests.”
He continued, “Around 450,000 driving licences are left to be issued, all of which will be delivered by next March. The process of transferring the car ownership will also be easier."
“TOUGH STANCE ON FITNESS TEST”
The advisor has directed the authorities to impose more restrictions on the fitness certificates of vehicles.
He said, "We have also made a decision over the renewal of the vehicles’ fitness certificate. In case of renewal, a 15-day deadline is likely to be imposed first from the BRTA. Those who will fail to do it within this period will be given another notice, after which their fitness certificates will be revoked if no one comes. It will come into effect immediately."
"The drive against unfit vehicles will be intensified," he said.
