Dhaka Bureau: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has given strict orders to implement ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ across the country from today.
He gave this order at the first meeting of the advisory council formed under the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Act 2017 on Wednesday, May 15.
The meeting was held at the BRTA headquarters in Banani. Two city mayors of Dhaka, the BRTA chairman, and related people were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the minister ordered the implementation of no helmet, no fuel across the country today.
At that time, Obaidul Quader said, “There are more accidents after Eid than before Eid, and there have been some tragic accidents.” These are not ministers, but as people, they trouble us.
He said, ‘I have been in charge of this ministry for so long. The target is that traffic jams and accidents during Eid this year will be less than next year. The next year will be even less. If not, then why are we working here? Where is the success of our teamwork?
Regarding the various initiatives and plans already taken, the Minister of Road Transport said, ‘I am not getting the results of these! If you don’t get results, what’s the use of them? I am not getting the result. I have to listen. Nobody will say anything to the BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority) chairman.
He said, ‘There are so many roads in Bangladesh, up to the border area, and from the plains to the mountains today, the roads are beautiful wherever you go. Why is there no discipline even after so many roads? If there is no discipline, we will not get the results of these things.
Commenting that there are many things about accidents, he said, ‘Other countries calculate how many accidents happen in which country. Today, 200 people died in an accident in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, but there will be no loud words about that in those countries either.
“We are getting more casual here. The reason is that cars like motorcycles and easy bikes are moving on the road. There are eight to 10 people on an easybike; if it collides with a large vehicle, all of the easybikes die. Then the casualness increases,’ he said.
Referring to motorcycles, another nuisance, Quader said, “Today, we have controlled motorcycles a lot in Dhaka City. You can’t see normality here without a helmet; everyone wears a helmet, and two people are riding.’
Calling for this policy to be introduced at Mofswale, he said, “Tell the DC-SPs that no one will be given oil in those areas if they are not wearing helmets.”
Quader said, “It will not work if we do it in Dhaka city; we have to do no helmet, no fuel in the whole of Bangladesh.” We took this decision today.
It was informed in the meeting that the mobile court is being conducted every day since Eid. Old cars are being caught off the road and dumped. The problem with the police is that they don’t have a place to park their cars.
Obaidul asked Kader, How does a 43-year-old car run on the road?
In response, Road Transport and Highways Department Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori said that the vehicles were hidden. Friday-Saturday out suddenly.
He also said that the vehicles left the airport on Rampura Road on the way to Sayedabad on Saturday. Such a bad car! When you see it, it seems to be on the road. During Eid, the cars started. Three major accidents occurred during the Eid trip.
Nuri said that once during Eid, so many unfit cars came down that the police were forced to leave.
Obaidul Quader ordered them to take measures to stop them.
