UNB, Dhaka :
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said a harsher law will be enacted soon increasing jail term to prevent frequent road accidents.
He said this while inaugurating the 6th grad conference of Nirapad Sarak Chai (We demand safe road), a road safety advocacy group, at Mahanagar Natya Manch at Gulistan as the chief guest.
Referring to the existing provision in the Penal Code punishing persons responsible for road accidents, the Law Minister termed it very pitiable and said the relevant Penal Code will be updated considering the gravity of the present need.
The existing Penal Code (Section 304B) stipulates, “Whoever causes the death of any person by rash or negligent driving of any vehicle or riding on any public way not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both”.
Recalling his personal tragedy in which he lost his wife in a road accident in the capital in January 1991, Anis said the accused truck driver was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment only. “This is very unfortunate and shameful as well.”
He said, the government has taken various plans to prevent road accidents across the country and sought cooperation of all in this regard.
The Law Minister also called upon various organisations, including Nirapad Sarak Chai, to make arrangements for the rehabilitation of the road crash victims, now suffering with pains and agony.
Nirapad Sarak Chai chairman Ilias Kanchan, whose wife was also killed in a road accident, underscored the need for increasing the jail term to prevent road accidents.
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said a harsher law will be enacted soon increasing jail term to prevent frequent road accidents.
He said this while inaugurating the 6th grad conference of Nirapad Sarak Chai (We demand safe road), a road safety advocacy group, at Mahanagar Natya Manch at Gulistan as the chief guest.
Referring to the existing provision in the Penal Code punishing persons responsible for road accidents, the Law Minister termed it very pitiable and said the relevant Penal Code will be updated considering the gravity of the present need.
The existing Penal Code (Section 304B) stipulates, “Whoever causes the death of any person by rash or negligent driving of any vehicle or riding on any public way not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both”.
Recalling his personal tragedy in which he lost his wife in a road accident in the capital in January 1991, Anis said the accused truck driver was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment only. “This is very unfortunate and shameful as well.”
He said, the government has taken various plans to prevent road accidents across the country and sought cooperation of all in this regard.
The Law Minister also called upon various organisations, including Nirapad Sarak Chai, to make arrangements for the rehabilitation of the road crash victims, now suffering with pains and agony.
Nirapad Sarak Chai chairman Ilias Kanchan, whose wife was also killed in a road accident, underscored the need for increasing the jail term to prevent road accidents.
