Dhaka:Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has announced plans to train 68,000 drivers under two programs to improve road safety and develop skilled professional drivers for employment opportunities both domestically and internationally.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the World Bank-funded Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BSRP) will train 60,000 drivers, with 40,000 new professional drivers being trained and 20,000 existing drivers receiving refresher training. This initiative is set to run from May 2026 to June 2028 through BRTC's network of training institutes and centers.
In addition, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP) will train an additional 8,000 new drivers. This program emphasizes communication skills in English and Arabic to facilitate employment in Middle Eastern countries, alongside comprehensive training in defensive driving and vehicle maintenance.
The training will include a gender action plan to prevent harassment of female passengers and encourage more women to join the driving profession. BRTC has previously trained 47,500 people under a different program and continues to build on its experience to enhance driving standards and road safety. Successful trainees will receive government-recognized certificates and professional driving licenses, alongside allowances for attendance.