City Desk :
A prolonged dispute between the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and its contracted supplier, Indian-based Madras Security Printers (MSP), is exacerbating the wait times for applicants seeking smart driving licence cards.
The backlog of applications for these essential cards has now reached 610,000, with no guarantee as to when applicants will receive their cards, reports UNB.
As per BRTA records, MSP is required to deliver 4 million smart cards by July 2026 under the terms of their Tk 1.2 billion contract, signed in July 2020.
However, the supplier has reportedly delivered only half of this number so far.
Compounding the issue, MSP has yet to process approximately 600,000 applications.
BRTA officials indicate that MSP’s delays have significantly impacted their service delivery, while MSP contends that production is stalled due to unpaid bills by the BRTA.
Meanwhile, new applications continue to flood in, encompassing fresh applications, renewals, and amendments.
For applicants, the prolonged wait for smart driving licence cards creates a host of challenges.
Many report that their employment opportunities, both in government and private sectors, are hindered without a valid smart card.
MD Rayhan, a city bike driver who applied two years ago, expressed frustration over repeated encounters with traffic police unwilling to recognise temporary documentation, often leading to fines or penalties.
In an attempt to address these issues, the BRTA has introduced an e-paper driving licence system, offering applicants a temporary document with a QR code after they pass their driving tests.
