The High Court yesterday directed the government to constitute a national independent inquiry committee, including at least 15 experts, to conduct a survey on the fitness of public motor vehicles in order to avoid road accidents across the country.

The secretaries to the ministries of transport and bridges, and home affairs and the chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) have been asked to form the committee immediately and to submit the survey report to the HC within three months. 

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why they should not be directed to stop plying of the unfit vehicles. The HC also ordered the authorities to show causes why their failure to stop that should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed the order following a writ petition filed by Advocate Tanvir Ahmed, a Supreme Court lawyer.

In the petition, Advocate Tanvir said many vehicles do not have adequate looking glasses, brake or signal lights, and many are unfit to ply roads, for which accidents are taking place and people are losing their lives.

According to the constitution, nobody can be deprived of life without legal procedure, he said. Article 32 of the constitution says, “No person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty save in accordance with law.”

Accidents take place due to lack of fitness of the vehicles, Advocate Tanvir argued.

Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque Tutul represented the state.