Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - The Parliament on Wednesday passed the much-anticipated 'Road Transport Bill, 2018' keeping a provision of maximum 5 years' jail for any death or serious injuries caused by reckless or negligent driving.   Recourse to the death penalty, for which crimoes go up in light of almost any accident on the part of the families of victims, has been intentional murder by driving. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote. As per clause 105 of the bill, "If anyone sustains serious injuries or loses life in any motor transport driving-related accident, such offenses will be considered as crimes under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code 1860."

"But provided that no matter whatever punishment is in the provision 304 (B) of the Penal Code, whoever causes the serious injuries or death of any person by rash or negligent driving of any motorised vehicle shall be punished with imprisonment of maximum five-year term or with Tk 5 lakh as fine or both," the same clause continues.

The maximum punishment for this offence was seven-year imprisonment in the past, which was later reduced to three-year imprisonment through bringing an amendment to the law. But the punishment has again been proposed to be increased to five-year jail.

The Cabinet on August 6 last approved the bill to replace the existing Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983 in the wake of student movement for road safety after two students of Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College were killed in a road accident.

As per the Clause 11 of the bill, there will be a point system against each driving license. A total of 12 points will remain allocated against each driving license. With each driving offence that gets caught, a point will be lost. With 10 offences, a license will be suspended for a year. Losing 12, the license gets cancelled.   
The minimum educational qualification for having a driving licence is class-VIII in clause-6 of the proposed law.

As per the clause 53 of the bill, a financial assistance fund will be formed to provide compensation or medical treatment cost to the victims or victim families of road accidents.

A board of trustees, led by a chairman, will maintain the fund. The victims will get compensation or medical treatment costs as fixed by the board.

According to clause 39, the working hours for drivers, helpers-cum-cleaners and conductors will be fixed through the government gazette notification, maintaining consistency with the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006.
 
As per the proposed law, the maximum punishment for driving without driving licence or driving motorized vehicle without fitness are six-month imprisonment or Tk 25,000 as fine or both. It is the fine provion t

According to the bill, the maximum punishment for driving unregistered motorized vehicles is six-month imprisonment or Tk 50,000 as fine or both.