The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has urged medium and heavy vehicle drivers to get the appropriate driving licence by June 30.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a workshop for transport drivers in Banani, Dhaka on Monday, BRTA Chairman Md Moshiar Rahman said the transport authority would help the participants of the workshop to file application forms for valid licences.
The BRTA organized the workshop, with the support of the Bangladesh Transport Owners’ Association, to train drivers of medium and heavy vehicles to improve their efficiency and make them aware of road safety rules – in order to curb road accidents.
A total of 200 drivers employed by four passenger bus services in Dhaka are taking part in the workshop, scheduled to run till May 10.
Addressing the ceremony, transport officials and leaders said a special rule had been formulated to allow drivers of light and medium vehicles to upgrade their licences to enable them to drive medium and heavy vehicles, respectively, after only a year’s experience.
This rule supersedes the current law, which says a light vehicle driver needs to have five years’ experience to be eligible for the licence to drive a medium vehicle, and a medium vehicle driver needs six years of experience for a heavy vehicle licence.
The special rule is aimed at addressing the shortage of licensed and skilled drivers of heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks, and to ensure the proper movement of passengers and freight on the country’s roads.
Under the special rule, the deadline to upgrade driving licences was originally December 31, 2018, which was later extended to June 30, 2019.
Addressing the inauguration of the workshop, BRTA Chairman Moshiar Rahman said: “Through this workshop, the participating drivers will learn about all the rules and regulations regarding transport, driving and licence, which will help to ensure a proper road transport system. We will also help the participants to file their applications for licence upgrade in the correct manner.”
However, in order to get valid licences, the applicants will have to pass the driving tests, the BRTA chief said.
Echoing Moshiar, Bangladesh Transport Owners’ Association Secretary General Khandaker Enayetullah also urged drivers to get proper and valid licences.
“It is not the drivers who are always to blame for the road accidents, but I think some of responsibilities do lie with them. Two major issues with heavy transport drivers are drug addiction and reckless driving,” the transport owners’ association leader said.
“If you do not have valid driving licence, you will be subject to more severe punishment if you are involved in a road mishap,” he said while speaking to the workshop participants.
Enayetullah also announced that he would pay for the licence fees of all 200 participants in the workshop – from his personal funds.