The government is likely to make 60-hour training mandatory from a government recognised training institute for getting driving licence, said the interim government adviser to the road transport and bridges ministry Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Wednesday.
鈥榃e will arrange the training,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥榓s during training you will not able to earn we will give you an allowance.鈥�
The mandatory training is likely to start from next month, the adviser also said.
He also said that road crashes were a symbol of shame and failure of the government.
Currently, when the professional drivers renew their licence after five years they get a two-day mandatory training conducted by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, non-professional drivers do not require any training till now.
The adviser came up with the information while he was addressing a discussion jointly organised by the BRTA, Roads and Highways Department and Road Transport and Bridges Division at the Roads and Highways Department headquarters Sarak Bhaban in the capital.
The discussion was organised marking the 9th National Road Safety Day on the day.
Different non-governmental organisations also observed the day themed 鈥楽tandard helmet and safe speed, reduction in damage to life and properties鈥�.
Addressing the event as chief guest, adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir said that the foremost condition for safe roads free from accident and congestion was trained drivers.
鈥楩or this we are going to change the system completely for getting driving licences,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥榯he main condition to get driving licences will be training from any recognised government or private driving institutions.鈥�
The new system was planned to start from November, he said, adding that the existing committee which provided driving licences would also be removed.
Fouzul Kabir Khan said that most of the work under the training would be transferred from the BRTA to the private sector to make the BRTA a service-oriented agency from a controlling one.
Quoting a report of the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh, he said that between 2014 and 2025 daily 27 people were killed and 38 more were injured in 15 crashes on an average.
鈥楾he statistics are grim. We cannot let it continue in any way,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥榬oad accidents are a symbol of shame and failure for us.鈥�
Mentioning that the number of accidents and deaths increased following increase in the number of motorcycles, he urged people to use helmets.聽
The adviser added that vehicles driving without fitness were another big reason behind frequent fatal road crashes.
The discussion was attended, among others, by special assistant to the chief adviser Md Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, Bridges Division secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf, BRTA chairman Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed, Roads and Highways Department chief engineer Syed Moinul Hasan, and Bangladesh Road Transport Owners鈥� Association secretary general Saiful Alam.
Before the discussion, a procession paraded through the roads in Hatirjheel area and ended at Sarak Bhaban.
A press release issued by the road transport ministry said that the ministry would carry out a month-long road safety awareness programme in November at different educational institutions across the country, when it would also check the health of professional drivers.聽
Another press release from the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, Chattogram office, read that a human chain and public gathering were held in front of the Jamal Khan Press Club in the port city to mark the day.
The events were jointly organised by CAAB, Chattogram, Steps Towards Development and Policy Influence Group-Chattogram.
