The High Court yesterday directed the government to submit to it by October 17 a comprehensive report on the measures taken in the last five years to repair roads and highways, prevent road accidents and ensure road safety across the country.
The report must contain how much money was allocated for roads and highways, how the money was spent and what measures have been taken for development of roads and highways during this period, the HC said in a rule issued on the day.
The court also asked the government to explain within six weeks its failure to conduct proper investigation into road accidents, and why it should not be directed to prosecute and punish people responsible for the accidents.
The HC fixed October 18 for hearing on the rule.
An HC bench comprised of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Md Nuruzzaman issued the rule in response to a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation following the death of eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud and broadcast journalist Ashfaque Mishuk Munier in a road accident.
The HC said the report to be submitted to it must mention the number of licences issued for heavy and light vehicles and their drivers in the last five years, whether fitness of the vehicles and physical fitness the drivers were checked and what were the criteria for issuance of licence, the number of licences renewed in the last two years and the criteria for renewal of those.
Besides, the report has to mention the measures taken to prevent road accidents on 216 "black spots" identified by the Roads and Highways Department. Steps taken against unfit vehicles, drivers having illegal licence or no licence, and drivers using mobile phones during driving must also be mentioned in the report, the rule said.
The HC also wanted to know how many cases were filed regarding road accidents and how many were punished in those cases in 2010 and 2011.
The HC bench invited all including members of the Supreme Court Bar Association to place their suggestions to it to prevent road accidents.
The writ petition was jointly filed by the chairman of Legal Aid and Human Rights Committee of Bangladesh Bar Council, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Ain O Salish Kendra and Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association.
Advocate Mahmudul Islam, barrister Sara Hossain and advocate Iqbal Kabir Lytton represented the petitioners in the court while Additional Attorney General MK Rahman appeared for the state.
Source : The Daily Star
No comments:
Post a Comment