Law Minister Anisul Haque said that if the accident is not proved in the investigation of the case under the Road Transport Act, the trial will be under Section 302 (death penalty).
He said, in the previous current road transport law, it has been made non-bailable for 5 years. But it does not end here, if different information is proved in the investigation, then it will be eligible for prosecution under Section 302 of Bangladesh Penal Code. Here the investigation report and testimony of the investigating officer will determine whether the case will be tried under section 302 or section 304.
The Law Minister told journalists at the secretariat on Monday (06 August) at noon.
Anisul Haque told reporters in the briefing that the new law was needed, naturally people are interested in this law. Besides, the existing law is very old. Compared to that time, the country's road transport system and road system have also been modernized and improved. There are also court orders and directives.
He said that there were 177 sections in the previous law. In the present law, it has been made 124 and arranged in 14 chapters. Driving license regulations have been brought in, all necessary additions have been made to driving and road management.
The law minister said that the accident cannot continue to be called an accident. If the investigation shows that there was a deliberate mistake or an accident that could have been handled, then the case will be tried under Section 302. According to the importance of the case and the interest of the people, the case will be taken to the court if necessary. In the meantime, the government has promised to take the case of two young children on the airport road to the speedy trial court under Section 302.
"In making this law, the government has taken into consideration the judgments of all the related cases and the judgments of the courts. Those that could not be taken will be added while making the rules,' added Anisul Haque.
Earlier in the morning, the Cabinet meeting gave final approval to its draft, providing a maximum sentence of five years and fines due to driver's negligence in road accidents. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
Now the law will be taken up in the next session of Parliament for passage, said the concerned.
