The much-talked-about Road Transport Act, 2018 came into effect on Sunday, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

“The law will be enforced from today (Sunday) after its lax enforcement for two weeks that expired two days back,” he said.

Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, was a addressing a discussion titled ‘Road Safety and Road Transport Act 2018’ on the permanent campus of American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) at Kuril in the city. 

Mentioning that there are many challenges lying ahead in implementing the new law, he said they will go ahead to enforce it anyhow.

The Transport Act was supposed to come into effect on November 1 last.

However, Quader on November 2 said the law would be enforced fully after giving some more time to all concerned. 

A campaign was conducted across the country to make people aware about the law while no jail term was awarded or fine realised for violating it in the first two weeks.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam on November 4 said strict actions would be taken against traffic sergeants also if they were found involved in abusing the new Road Transport Act.

The 'Road Transport Bill-2018' was passed by parliament on September 19, 2018, keeping a provision of maximum five years' jail for any death or serious injuries caused by reckless or negligent driving.

On October 22 last, the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a notification saying the act would fully come into effect on November 1.