Stop plying of all unfit vehicles, HC tells govt

The High Court has directed the government to stop plying of all unfit motor vehicles across the country.

Issuing a suo moto rule, the court today ordered the government to freeze around 19 lakh fake driving licenses.

The HC bench of Justice, Quazi-Reza-Ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman ordered the government to take legal action against the persons who are using the fake licenses.

Besides, the court today asked the BRTA chairman to submit a report after complying with the order before it in 30 days.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks, the actions that have been taken so far even though they have knowledge that a large number of vehicles are plying on the roads without valid driving licenses and causing serious damage to lives of citizens.

Communication secretary, home secretary, IGP and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority chairman have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC judges came up with the order and rule following a report published on The Daily Sun on August 2 with headline “Road accident: 19 lakh fake drivers rule the highway”.

According to the report, 191 people were killed in 164 road accidents in the country in a single week from July 15 to July 21. Many of these accidents happen because of unfit vehicle and drivers with fake licenses. The government says there are 19 lakh drivers with fake driving licenses operating on the highways.