DHAKA, June 11: Communications Minister Obaidul Quader today informed the House that the government has
imparted training to 20,000 professional motor drivers during 2011-12 fiscal year to check alarmingly increasing road mishaps across the country.

"The training course is being conducted with joint supervision of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and
Bangladesh Army," he said while replying to a scripted question by BNP lawmaker Nazim Uddin Ahmed.

The minister also informed the House that 900 professional drivers received the awareness training during 2010-11 fiscal year. Quader said the government has taken a number of effective steps including reconstitution of the 'National Road Safety Council' headed by communications minister to reduce road mishaps. "The council holds its meeting in every six months," he said.

He said the government has also reconstituted metropolitan road safety committee, district road safety committee and upazila road safety committee.

Three-year 'National Road Safety Strategic Action Plan' has been formulated and being implemented by 24 organizations of the government, he said.

Quader said initiatives have also been taken to include road safety and traffic law in school curriculum.

The minister said the frequency of highway police patrol has been increased and initiatives have been taken to impose ban on plying of three wheelers and easy bikes on the highway to reduce road accidents.

Awareness campaign is continuing for encouraging people to use helmets while riding on motorbike, fasten seatbelt in cars and use foot over bridges while crossing roads for their own safety, he said.

Replying to another query from ABM Ashraf Uddin, the minister said the government has taken a decision in principle to upgrade all national highways to four lanes under a project titled 'Sub- regional Road Transport Project' with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) to reduce traffic congestion.