Road crash victims yet to receive any compensation despite fund availability
26 March 2023
Staff Reporter :
Government yet to pay any compensation to road accident victims, although the fund has been raised since December last year. Vehicle owners have been giving money for the fund for road accident victims but the responsible authorities have no example of compensation fund disbursement till date.
Under the newly formulated rules of the Road Transport Act (RTA)- 2018, which took effect four years after enactment of the law, the family of a person killed in a road crash due to reckless or negligent driving get at least Tk five lakh in compensation.
Those who lose a limb or suffer other forms of life-changing injuries get Tk three lakh each, while the victims who are likely to recover from injuries and return to normal life compensated Tk one lakh as per RTA-2018.
Regarding the compensation fund, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority ( BRTA) Chairman, Noor Mohammad Majumdar said that, during this period six compensation claims were received, which were allowed to be investigated. If the casualty is true, the victims will get help. But no victims or victim's family received any monetary support yet, he recognized.
Compensation claims settled by a 12-member trustee board and the trustee board can revise the compensation funds from time to time upon approval from the government, according to the Road Transport Act.
As per Motor Vehicles Ordinance-1983, the government creates the fund for compensating and treating road crash victims and the fund created with a one-time or annual "contribution" from vehicle owners.
According to the rules, the owner of a bus, truck, lorry and semi-trailer truck pay Tk 1,500 a year for the fund, while the fee is Tk 750 for a minibus, mini-truck and pickup; Tk 500 for a car, SUV and micro-bus; and Tk 300 for a three-wheeler. A motorcycle owner must pay a one-time fee of Tk 1,000, read the rules.
The total number of vehicles registered across the country is 56, 61,418. Among them, 40,68, 819 motorcycles have been contributed Tk 6. 1 crore. Likewise, five lakh new motorcycles are registered annually and contribute Tk 50 crore in this fund.
Trucks, buses, covered vans and prime movers contribute Tk 44.48 crore. Private cars provide additional Tk 20 crore, and it is expected in every year the fund amounted Tk 150 crore to compensate the road crash victims.
BRTA Chairman, Noor Mohammad Majumdar said about the fund that, initially, a grant of TK 100 crore was sought from the government. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has recommended to the Ministry of Finance to release Tk 50 crore. It has not been found yet. We are working on this issue to materialize the whole process.
