TIB condemns forming road safety committee led by Shajahan

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) expressed strong protest and condemnation over the government decision of forming committee to control road accident headed by former minister Shajahan Khan.

TIB expressed the condemnation and protest through a statement on Tuesday.

In the statement TIB executive director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, when no initiative is taken to prevent road accident- at that moment in which way the committee was formed- it will make the willpower of the government as questionable.

He said, it is impossible to hope that the committee will work as a neutral and independent body as representatives of transport owners and workers were kept there who played controversial role in the previous.

Expressing concern Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, the controversial role and questionable attitude of the former shipping minister following the death of two students in road accident last year, on pretext of that the unprecedented student movement and against it his and other committee members’ comments and stance made the process questionable.

He said, this committee formation is not compatible with the Prime Minister’s declaration of establishing good governance and accountability in all sectors.

Sourcing TIB research on road transport management he said, unlimited irregularities, willfulness, injustice, negligence to duties and limitless dishonesty by the influential persons are going on in the road transport sector.

Mentioning transport sector has turned into hostage by the influential owners and workers organizations the TIB Executive Director said, the committee with persons who are involved in feud of interest, cannot bring any fruitful result.

He urged the government to reform the committee with neutral, reputed experts and persons involved in road safety movement.

AH