Dhaka:The sixth phase of the light motor vehicle driving and basic maintenance training for new drivers, including female trainees, has begun under the Asian Development Bank-funded Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP). This training is being conducted at 11 training institutes and centers of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) nationwide.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BRTC Chairman Mir Ahmed Tarikul Omar officially inaugurated the program at a ceremony held at the BRTC Training Institute in Tejgaon. Several senior BRTC officials attended the event.
In this sixth phase, 700 freshers will receive four months of training free of charge. Engineer Fatima Begum, General Manager (IWCS and Training) of BRTC, stated that the program, which started in February 2025, aims to train a total of 8,000 individuals by December 2028. So far, 3,500 trainees have completed the training in the first five phases.
Fatima Begum highlighted the government's efforts to ensure road safety, emphasizing the importance of creating skilled drivers. The training, provided free of cost under both the ADB-funded SICIP and the World Bank-funded Road Safety Program, aims to equip freshers with skills for dignified employment both domestically and internationally.
Trainees will receive a transportation allowance of Taka 8,000 and a refreshment allowance of Taka 4,000, contingent on their daily attendance. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be awarded certificates and professional driving licenses.
The training is being held at the following locations Tejgaon, Gazipur, Uthuli, Sirajganj, Rangpur, Sylhet, Cumilla, Chattogram, Tungipara, Jhenaidah, and Barishal.