“Corruption can in no way be allowed,” the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam said while hearing a writ petition.

It also wanted to know what steps have been taken against registered but unfit vehicles and drivers who failed to renew their registration and licences.

The court asked the authorities concerned to submit a report with information on the registered but unfit vehicles and their drivers and owners in details within one month. 

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) chairman and director of its Road Safety Division will have to submit a progress report after implementing the court order.

“What do police do when an unfit vehicle is seen plying roads? We’ve to bring everything under a system,” the court said, fixing July 23 for the next hearing.

Earlier in the day, BRTA’s Road Safety Division Director Mahbub-E-Rabbani appeared before the court in compliance with its order issued on March 23.

Barrister Moin Firozi and Rafiul Islam stood for the BRTA while Deputy Attorney General AKM Aminuddin Manik represented the state.

On March 23, Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub drew court’s attention to a report on unfit vehicles published in an English newspaper.

Later, the court summoned the BRTA director asking him to appear before it on June 24.

The BRTA Chairman, IGP, deputy commissioners of Dhaka North and South Traffic Police and Director of BRTA Road Safety Division were asked to provide information to the court.

The court had also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the defendants to stop plying of vehicles found unfit, unregistered and without licences should not be declared illegal.

It had also wanted to know why the Motor Vehicles Act 1983 should not be followed perfectly.

Barrister Moin Firozi said there are 458,369 vehicles in the country which have got their licences but have no fitness clearance and of these, 168,308 are in Dhaka but the number of vehicles running without licence is unknown as it is the authority of regional transport committee.