Dope test to be mandatory for drivers: DNCC mayor

Dope test would be made mandatory for drivers and they have to pass the test before sitting on wheels of vehicles, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam said today.

“The initiative will encourage the drivers to stay away from taking drug,” Atiqul said after attending a meeting with a group of students at Nagar Bhaban office in Gulshan area of Dhaka this noon.

DNCC organised the meeting to inform updates of its initiatives taken after the recent student protests following the death of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) student Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury by a speeding bus at Pragati Sarani in the capital on March 19.

A group of students from BUP, North South University, East West University, Brac University and Independent University of Bangladesh and representatives of some concerned authorities including Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and Dhaka Metropolitan Police attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the students also placed some demands including make the BRTA free from broker and corruption and set up zebra crossing instead of foot-over bridges, stop running buses on the contract basis, re-installing of digital traffic system and half-fare for students.

The mayor vested his consent to the demand and sought some times to implement the demands of the students saying that there are “many obstacles” in the road and transport sector for many years.

When the students sought a time-frame for implementation of their demands, the DNCC mayor said, “We agree to all of your demands, but it will take time. You have to give us more time and gradually we will fulfill your demands,” he added.

Claiming that they have already started to implement the demands, the mayor said, “The city corporation has decided to set up red bus stop signs and zebra crossings, construct footbridges and underpasses, passenger shades and speed breakers.”

The DNCC mayor said they have planned to construct a model road from Pragati Sarani to Malibagh, that will comprise all facilities of a safe road.