সোমবার, ১৭ অগাস্ট ২০২৬, ০৭:১১ অপরাহ্ন
DHAKA, Aug 17, 2026 (BSS) – A total of 768 public transport drivers have been trained under an initiative of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), with the support of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, to help ensure a sustainable smoke-free public transport system.
The training programme, titled “Professional Skills and Awareness Development Training for Professional Drivers”, was conducted in four phases during August at the Joar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in the capital, said a press release issued by Dhaka Ahsania Mission today.
During the training sessions, Adut Rahman Imon, Programme Officer of the organisation’s Tobacco Control Project, presented audio-visual materials on the implementation of tobacco control laws and the health hazards of tobacco use.
Participants were also briefed on the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026, passed by Parliament on April 10, 2026.
Drivers of buses, CNG-run vehicles, legunas and tempos took part in the training. They were provided with information on the harmful effects of direct and secondhand smoking, health risks associated with tobacco use and key provisions of the existing law.
Speakers at the training said smoking by drivers and their assistants exposes passengers, particularly women and children, to secondhand smoke and puts their health at serious risk.
They stressed the need for greater awareness among public transport workers to ensure a smoke-free and healthier environment for passengers.
