Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday urged the government to make public the draft of Road Transport Act, which was okayed by the cabinet on Monday.

In a press release, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the High Court's order is to award a maximum punishment of seven years' imprisonment for causing death to a person by reckless driving.

"But, several media outlets yesterday published reports saying that the draft act proposed the punishment for five years instead of seven, which is contradictory to the court's order," said Iftekharuzzaman. If the government does not make the act public - like on the government website and other forms - confusion may rise among people, he added.

Meanwhile, Juktofront leaders in a press statement urged the government to include a provision in the act to award strict punishment for transport owners who operate unfit vehicles, and for drivers who do not have driving licences.

Its leaders AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, ASM Abdur Rob and Mahmudur Rahman Manna expressed frustration over the draft act, saying people's expectations were not reflected in it.

Besides, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) in another press release said the proposed act was "incomplete and onesided", as it did not include several offences and irregularities related to the transport sector.