The High Court has asked the government to remove illegal structures within 10 metres of the country's highways with immediate effect.
It also asked the government to set up central reservations on the highways to prevent accidents and amend a highway related rule which allows construction of structures within 10 metres of the highways.
The HC bench of Justice Zinat Ara and AKM Shahidul Huq came up with the orders Monday while delivering judgement on a writ petition by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh in 2011 that sought directives from the court to prevent accidents in highways.
In the verdict, the court directed the government to fix Secondary School Certificate (SSC) as the minimum qualification required to receive a driving licence and implement it after five years.
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh submitted the petition after 11 people were killed in a road accident in Faridpur in February 2011.
They were killed when a motorcade of lawyer Muktadir Chowdhury faced the accident while returning from Tungipara after visiting the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.