Drivers of a covered van and a human hauler, locally known as Laguna, were killed in a fatal head-on collision between their vehicles on Araihazar-Madanpur road in Narayanganj's Araihazar Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Ratan, 42, of Krishnapur village of Araihazar and Din Islam, 45, of Laskkardi village of the same upazila. The accident occurred around noon when the speeding covered van crashed into the human hauler with a lot of force in the Lengurdi area, Azizul Haque Hawlader, officer-in-charge of Araihazar Police Station, said. Laguna driver Ratan died instantly from the impact of the crash; covered van driver Din Islam was sent to a local hospital with serious injuries. Din Islam succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. At the request of the relatives of the deceased, the bodies were handed over to them without autopsies, Azizul said, adding that legal action will be taken in connection with the accident. Read more: 2 killed in bus-auto rickshaw collision in Kishoreganj     

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said dope test will be made obligatory for the vehicle drivers and within two months they should get their appointment letters. The minister said this to journalists after attending a meeting of the taskforce on law and order on roads at the secretariat. He said along with these the decision to not allow money collection in the name of associations on the roads was taken at the meeting. “Except in terminals any money collection on the roads will not be allowed. Even the tax courts formed in the district and upazila levels won’t be allowed to collect money from anywhere,” said Asaduzzaman Khan. Also read: Police being built as a world-class force: Home Minister The minister said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been asked to take actions in this regard. The home minister said a committee has been formed led by Bangladesh Road Transport Association (BRTA) chairman to examine how long the old private and government vehicles can operate on the roads. “The decision to form the committee was made as the expired old vehicles often cause accidents on the roads,” he added Asaduzzaman Khan said in phases arrangements will be made to conduct dope tests at the terminals and drivers will be tested immediately before driving. Also raed: It’s unfair to put all the blame of crossfires on RAB: Home Minister He said BRTA has started the dope tests from January 30 before providing licenses. “After two months we will check whether the owners have provided appointment letters to staff, drivers as it is in the law,” he said. The minister said a decision was made to make the issuance of the driving license process easier for the drivers future.

The Marine Court here on Sunday ordered to send the two drivers of the MV Abhijan-10 launch to jail in a case related to last month’s deadly fire that killed at least 42 passengers of the vessel. They are - the 8th accused in the case Abul Kalam ( in-charge driver) and the 7th accused Masum Billah (2nd driver). Earlier on December 28, the same court sent the two masters of the launch Riaz Sikder (master in charge) and the 6th accused Khalilur Rahman (2nd master) to jail when they surrendered before it. The court was set up on the 8th floor of BIWTA Bhaban in the city’s Motijheel after the launch fire on December 24. Read:Launch tragedy: Probe committee gets 3 more days to submit report Sources at the court said the two drivers of the launch surrendered before Special Metropolitan Magistrate Zainab Begum on Sunday morning and applied for bail. After hearing, the court ordered to send them to jail. Advocate Billal Hossain, prosecuting officer of the Department of Shipping, confirmed this to UNB. He said that the overall responsibility of the engine room rests with the engine drivers. Not only did they neglect their responsibilities, their role in the aftermath of the fire was presumptuous. The fire was initially reported to have started from the engine room, he said. If they had managed the engine room properly with perfect supervision, perhaps this horrible tragedy could have been averted, Adv Billal added. Adv Md Jahangir Hossain argued for the defendants seeking bail. On December 26, the chief inspector of the Department of Shipping Shafiqur Rahman filed a case against eight people, including four owners of the launch, under the Marine Act with the Marine Court. The court took cognizance of the case and issued arrest warrants against the accused. Read:Launch fire tragedy: 47 confirmed dead now, at least 58 still missing The worst launch fire in memory occurred in the early hours of December 24 on Sugandha river off Jhalakathi town as Abhijan-10 packed with more than 800 passengers was on the way to Barguna from Dhaka. Police received reports of 42 deaths in the incident. At least 80 people were injured and many others reported missing.

Nine Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) drivers have been suspended over the death of Notre Dame College student Naim Hasan under the wheels of a DSCC garbage truck in Gulistan. The move was made against them for illegally running the vehicles allocated to them through proxy drivers. Also, a departmental case was filed against the drivers on charges of negligence of duty, misconduct and incompetence. However, the DSCC drivers will get a food allowance during their suspension. READ: Notre Dame College student’s death: DSCC cleaning staff Harun remanded Of the nine DSCC staff, seven drive garbage trucks. They are Kawsar Ali, Belayet Hossain, Farid Ahmed, Md Abdullah, Jamal Uddin II, Kabir Hossain II and Rabiul Alam, DSCC Public Relations Officer Md Abu Naser said Monday. The others – Azim Uddin and Nur Jalal Shikder – drive light vehicles. According to the office order signed by DSCC Secretary Akramuzzaman, the vehicles were allocated to DSCC registered drivers who had them illegally driven by proxy drivers. "This is the reason why accidents occur frequently, costing human lives and damaging properties." The DSCC's transport department officials became serious about irregularities after Naim was run over by a garbage truck on November 24. The report of the investigation committee formed over the death of the Notre Dame College student also revealed mismanagement and irregularities at the DSCC's transport department. A proxy driver, later identified as outsider Russel Khan, was behind the wheels of the truck when the accident took place in Gulistan. READ: Notre Dame College student’s death: main DSCC driver arrested Staff driver Md Iran Mia, who was supposed to drive the vehicle, allowed DSCC cleaning staff Harun to run it. Harun then handed over the keys to the truck to Russel.

Detroit, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Alerts from new driver assist systems can be so annoying that some motorists are turning the features off, according to a new survey.

Biddeford, Aug 10 (AP/UNB) — Dozens of ducklings have made a bid to create the world's cutest traffic jam in a Maine city.