Drivers cannot be convicted on charge of murder from now on as no accident takes place at somebody’s will, said Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir on Wednesday.
According to the penal code, only the intentional killing cases will be filed under section 302 and the rest under section 304 of the penal code, he said.
The ministry has the authority to review the cases filed so far under section 302 as they were not lodged properly.
He said this at a meeting after transport owners and workers demanded withdrawal of accidental cases which were filed under section 302 of the penal code, and an end to money extortion from transports.
The owners and workers placed an eight-point demand at the meeting held on Monday at the home ministry conference room with Home Minister MK Alamgir in the chair.
The meeting followed a 72-hour symbolic strike from September 23 called by the Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, the leading organisation of the transport sector.
Following the meeting, Osman Ali, secretary general of the federation, told reporters that they would call off their strike only after the execution of the decisions taken at the meeting.
The meeting agreed unanimously to stop money extortion by police in the name of examining papers and licenses of vehicles and by labour and owners organisations.
The ministries concerned have been instructed to take steps in this regard, said MK Alamgir.
He said the authorities concerned will take action against extortionists on regional and national highways in the name of labour and owners organisations.
The home and shipping ministries will take steps to stop toll collection at ferry and launch terminals across the country.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Home Ministry’s Additional Secretary Mainuddin Khandokar, and Bangladesh Sarak
Paribahan Samity’s General Secretary Khandokar Enayet Ullah attended the meeting.