Thirteen out of 39 buses run without fitness certificates

An inquiry committee, formed following a High Court order, has found that 33 percent buses had no fitness certificate that run on the roads, said a survey report conducted on 39 buses.

The 15-member committee, led by Road Transport and Highway Division Additional Secretary Rawshan Ara Begum, found the result after conducting the survey in Dhaka's Banani and on three highways -- Dhaka-Tangail, Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Mawa, -- between November 20 and December 11 last year.

The committee, however, said the result “does not reflect ground reality” of the country, citing several limitations. The committee also recommended engaging a research organisation for carrying out a scientific survey on the vehicles to get the “real picture”.

A BRTA lawyer yesterday placed the survey result before the HC in which the committee said unfit vehicles should be controlled to bring discipline back on the roads and prevent causalities.

Responding to a writ, a HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal directed the government to form an independent national inquiry committee including at least 15 experts to conduct a survey on the motor vehicles on July 31 last year.

Following the order, the committee was formed including representatives of road transport and bridges ministry, home ministry and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, transport owners, workers and experts. The committee was asked to submit their report within three months.

Along with the 39 buses, the committee also checked 22 trucks, and 22 CNG-run auto-rickshaws. Of those, three trucks, four CNG-run auto-rickshaws did not have fitness clearance.