Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan has expressed frustration over the repeated visits required to obtain a driver’s license from the BRTA, noted that his driver had to take seven days off just to get one license.
He said this on Sunday during his first day at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways at the Secretariat.
In addition to his role in the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, he also serves as an adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Railways.
Regarding the harassment faced by people seeking BRTA services, the adviser said: “My driver had to take seven days off for a single driving license. Why should someone need seven days off for one license? I only have one vehicle. Where can I go? This issue arises because there was no understanding of public expectations.”
“You can schedule a test for someone. If it’s valid, fine; otherwise, they might cause accidents on the road. You should not allow more than three days for submission, testing, and receiving the license. Anything beyond that is unreasonable,” he added.
When a BRTA official noted that 95% of their services are now available online, the adviser responded: “Don’t just focus on online services. Help me understand the actual time required to obtain a driving license and how many visits are necessary. Now, there’s an excuse about online and computer systems.”
When questioned about justifying a seven-day process for his driver, the official said: “Many people seek help from others.”
The adviser then instructed: “Report on how many license applications have been received, how long it took to process them, the date of application receipt, and the delivery date to the Secretary.”
On the issue of extortion in the transport sector, he said: “This is a law-and-order matter. You should consult the Home Affairs Advisor about this.”
“If extortion is happening, where is the money going? We will not be recipients of extortion money. You can expect improvements, but if those involved in road transport are connected to this issue, inform us, and we will take immediate action,” he added.
He also advised transport sector officials: “Report in a way that allows me to make informed decisions. Sometimes reports are written with specific intentions. Please avoid that.”
