Dhaka -The High Court on Wednesday stayed a circular issued by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) allowing renewal of professional driving license without the approval of Driving Competency Test Board (DCTB).
A joint HC bench comprising justice Salma Masud and justice Md Habibul Gani passed the order after a preliminary hearing over a writ petition filed by a human rights organisation.The court also issued a rule asking why the circular of BRTA issued on December 31 giving opportunity of renewing driving license by an inspector ignoring DCTB tests would not be declared illegal.
Eight people, including Home Affairs secretary, Telecommunications secretary and BRTA Chairman, have been asked to respond to the rule within two weeks.
Lawyers Asaduzzaman Siddique and Mahbubul Islam filed the petition with the High Court.
Advocate Manzil Morshed stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Md Mokhselur Rahman argued for the state.
According to the Motor Vehicle Ordinance professional drivers’ license holders has to take a test while renewing it. The Driving Competency Board led by an additional magistrate administers the test.
But BRTA issued the new circular relaxing the condition of getting professional drivers’ license on December 31. Under the new rule, the professional drivers need not to appear before DTCB test. Inspectors have been authorised for renewing driving license.
