HC seeks list of registered but unfit vehicles

The High Court today asked Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to submit a detailed report before it on registered but unfit vehicles, their registration numbers and names of vehicle owners.

BRTA will have to submit the report in a month, the court said adding that the authorities must include detailed particulars of the drivers who have no valid driving license in the report.

The court also asked the BRTA to explain in the report the steps that have been taken against the unfit vehicles and unlicensed drivers.

The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Hafizul Alam passed the order while hearing a suo moto rule issued on March 27 this year.

The bench also exonerated Mahbub-E-Rabbani, director of BRTA (road safety), from personal appearance before the court after he appeared before the bench in the morning per its March 27 order.

During the hearing, BRTA’s lawyer Barrister Moyeen Firozee submitted a BRTA report saying that there are around 40,18,000 lakhs registered vehicles in the country and among them 14,42,860 vehicles are in Dhaka.

Among the total, 4,58,369 are registered but do not have any fitness clearance across the country and among them 1,68,308 are in Dhaka.

Unfit vehicles are running before the nose of police which cannot be allowed in any manner, Justice Nazrul Islam Talukdar said.     

Road accidents are taking place in the country as the officials concerned have not taken appropriate action to stop running of unfit vehicles by the drivers without valid license, the bench observed.

Deputy Attorney General AKM Aminuddin Manik appeared for the state.

The High Court on March 27 asked the authorities concerned to submit a report before it on unfit and unregistered vehicles plying the streets and on drivers without valid licenses.

The bench on that day also asked BRTA Director Mahbub-E-Rabbani to appear before it and give his explanation over the issue.

It also asked why directives should be given to implement the relevant laws, including the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983.

Under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983, vehicles must undergo mandatory fitness checks every year. But according to BRTA, a total of 71,218 vehicles have not had their fitness certificates renewed in 10 years, and many of those plying the roads pose serious risks of accidents.