BRTC to train 20,000 drivers, first phase of road-safety refresher starts Sunday

The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is taking up a new programme to produce skilled professional drivers. Under the road transport project, 20,000 drivers will be developed as professional and skilled drivers. The first phase of the initiative is set to begin next Sunday.

State Minister for Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid will inaugurate the first phase of the programme at the BRTC Training Institute in Tejgaon. In the first phase, professional drivers will receive five days of road-safety training at 27 BRTC training institutes and centres at different places across the country.

The government has taken the initiative with the goal of halving road accidents by 2030. The refresher training is part of BRTC's ongoing larger driver-training programme.

Under two projects — the World Bank-funded BRSP and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme — a total of 68,000 new and professional drivers will be trained.

BRTC General Manager (IWCS and Training) Engineer Fatema Begum said a large number of women are also receiving training under BRTC's various projects. She said that although participation by new women trainees was low at first, their interest is growing day by day, and a large number of women have already taken light-vehicle driving training under the two projects.

Highlighting the importance of refresher training, Fatema Begum said it plays an important role in preventing road accidents, giving professional drivers knowledge of traffic laws and rules, increasing safe and defensive driving skills, and ensuring responsible behaviour on the road.

She said a four-month training programme is being run under the BRSP project to create completely new professional drivers. The five-day refresher training, on the other hand, has been arranged to raise awareness among existing professional drivers.

Fatema Begum added that through these programmes drivers will be encouraged to build safe driving habits, identify potential risks and prevent road accidents. Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening drivers' own sense of responsibility for ensuring the safety of passengers and pedestrians.