BRTA trains 620 public transport drivers on tobacco control, smoke-free transport
The participants included drivers of buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, legunas and tempos.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has trained 620 public transport drivers on professional skills, tobacco control laws and the importance of maintaining a smoke-free public transport system.
The training programme, titled "Professional Skills and Awareness Development Training for Professional Drivers," was conducted in four phases in July 2026 at the Joar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in Dhaka, according to a press release issued by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) today (15 July).
The participants included drivers of buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, legunas and tempos.
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During the sessions, Adut Rahman Imon, programme officer of DAM's Tobacco Control Project, delivered audio-visual presentations on tobacco control laws and the harmful effects of tobacco use.
The drivers were also briefed on the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026, passed by parliament on 10 April this year.
The training highlighted the health risks of secondhand smoke to passengers caused by smoking inside public transport and explained the legal penalties for smoking in prohibited public places, including transport terminals, airports, railway stations, seaports and government offices.
According to DAM, such capacity-building initiatives are important for ensuring effective implementation of smoke-free policies in public transport and promoting behavioural change among transport workers.
