Syed Shemul Parvez :
Allegation of drug taking against public transport drivers is a long-standing issue. To get rid of this allegation, earlier the Bangladesh Transport Owners’ Association said that their transport drivers must be brought under the dope test.
Even after such an announcement made by the association in October last year, it was not implemented yet.
Earlier, the authorities concerned had started planning the implementation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive to bring public transport workers under a dope testing system.
However, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has not yet finalized the time when it will be started.
The officials of public transport authorities have been discussing on stopping driving under the influence of drugs for a long time. In response to their demand, on October 6, 2019, Khandaker Enayet Ullah, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, announced that dope tests would be conducted on transport drivers from December 1 of that year.
But the transport owners later complained that the BRTA as well as police did not cooperate then. In this situation, on October 22 last year, marking the occasion of National Road Safety Day 2020, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had given some instructions to bring the all transports drivers under the dope test to prevent accidents.
“Those who are driving the vehicles should keep an eye on whether they are drug addicts or not,” Prime Minister said. This test is absolutely essential for every driver. All drivers have to bring under this test, she added.
Following the Prime Minister’s directive, on October 27, the Road Transport and Highway Division held a meeting with all the heads of the agencies concerned to discuss how to implement the directives. And the BRTA was asked to call another meeting over this issue,
Even the committee concerned was also asked to report within the next seven working days.
On November 12 last year, the BRTA had also called another meeting to find a way to bring the huge number of public transport drivers under the test.
“This was a preparatory meeting to find the way to implement the prime minister’s directive,” said Nur Mohammad Mazumdar, Chairman, BRTA
They were later supposed to talk with health experts and officials of the Department of Narcotics Control to set how and where the tests could be conducted, along with other issues in this regard, he said.
“We have to hold more meetings. We are giving the highest priority as it’s a directive from the PM,” he added.
But no outline has been finalized yet. As a result, the frustration of the transport concerned circle is increasing.
When asked, Khandaker Enayet Ullah, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, told the media that he had announced the dope testing for drivers first. But for various reasons it did not happen.
Then the Prime Minister gave instructions again. The BRTA has also formed a committee on this issue. The committee had held only one meeting so far.
But nothing has been finalized yet. ‘
BRTA chairman Noor Mohammad Majumder said, “A committee has been formed following the directives of the prime minister. In that meeting, BRTA has been given the responsibility to work on strategy.
He also said since it requires a variety of medical examinations, it may take some time to adjust the action plan. He also hoped the action plan will be finalized very soon.
Meanwhile, Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, Secretary General, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, told the New Nation that those who were given the responsibility to implement the action, truly speaking they are not working according to the instructions.
It is mentionable that after countrywide road safety movement in 2018, it was hoped by general people that there would be some significant changes in transport sector because of the big promises made by the government. But unfortunately, the department concerned could not keep its promises, and so no substantive changes have been made.
