Cabinet okays new transport law, highest punishment 5-yrs jail

The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft Road Transport Bill with a provision of the highest 5 years’ jail or fine or both for any death or serious injuries caused by reckless driving.

The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair amid the ongoing student movement demanding safe road.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

Under the proposed law, if death through road crash is proved as intentional murder then the offenders will be punished as per the Penal Code.

While talking to reporters after the meeting, Roads and Highway Department secretary Nazrul Islam said earlier the highest punishment for the crime was three years’ imprisonment, and now it has been increased to five years.

Under the proposed law, it is a non-bailable offence while it was bailable one in the previous law, he said.

Source: unb