A REPORT published in a national newspaper has said that the government has given additional benefits to vehicle owners under pressure.
Not only that even after issuing a notification to remove unfit vehicles from the roads, the government has backed down under pressure from the owners.
This is worrying news, especially in terms of passenger rights and environmental protection. This is not the first time such an incident has happened.
However, it has once again proven that the government is helpless in the hands of the much-talked about road transport syndicate.
Many of the advisers to the interim government are internationally recognized and respected for their environmental work.
Yet, they have been forced to back down by announcing withdrawal of the notification regarding the environmentally destructive and unfit vehicles.
According to the report, earlier the maximum period for importing reconditioned vehicles was five years, which has already been decided to be increased to 12 years.
In this regard, preparations are underway to provide loans to the owners at low interest rates and reduce income tax.
Meetings have been held in the relevant ministries on all these issues related to vehicles. But the results have been zero. Rather, as always, the pockets of the owners have been inflated.
It is to be noted that one of the major problems of the city is traffic congestion. The main reason for this is the chaotic transportation system.
As of June this year, the number of 25-year-old trucks, covered vans, and tankers nationwide was 41,140; and the number of expired buses and minibuses was 39,169.
It is worth noting that on July 20, the government had launched a campaign to evict old vehicles on the outskirts of Dhaka, but backed down after threats of a strike by owner-worker organizations.
Many domestic and foreign studies, including national dailies, have highlighted the harmful effects of unfit vehicles in the city.
As a result of air pollution, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and patients with respiratory problems are especially facing serious harm.
As the number of diseases and deaths in the country continues to rise, the fragile health sector is becoming increasingly vulnerable.
The exploitation and reality that has taken place in the country’s transport sector, the government is now hostage to the owners. We do not want to be disappointed.
The government still has time in its hands. If government can firmly bring about reforms in this sector, then it will be possible for the common people to enjoy, even if only a small portion, the fruits of the July mass uprising.
