BRTA trains 768 drivers on tobacco risks

A total of 768 public transport drivers have received training on tobacco control, health risks and professional skills under a Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) initiative aimed at promoting a sustainable smoke-free public transport system.

The training was organised by the BRTA with support from Dhaka Ahsania Mission and conducted in four phases during August at the Joar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in the capital, according to a press release issued by the organisation on Monday.

Drivers of buses, CNG-run vehicles, legunas and tempos took part in the programme, titled “Professional Skills and Awareness Development Training for Professional Drivers”.

During the sessions, Adut Rahman Imon, Programme Officer of Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s Tobacco Control Project, used audio-visual materials to explain the implementation of tobacco control laws and the health hazards associated with tobacco use.

Participants were also briefed on the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026, which was passed by Parliament on April 10, 2026.

The training covered the harmful effects of both direct and secondhand smoking, health risks linked to tobacco consumption and key provisions of the existing law.

Speakers said smoking by public transport drivers and their assistants exposes passengers, particularly women and children, to secondhand smoke, posing serious risks to their health.

They stressed the need to increase awareness among public transport workers to create a healthier and smoke-free environment for passengers.

The initiative brought professional skills development and tobacco-control awareness together as part of efforts to support a sustainable smoke-free public transport system.