BRTA and DAM train 750 drivers to promote smoke-free public transport and raise health awareness. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, April 23, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 750 public transport drivers have been trained as part of a capacity-building initiative aimed at ensuring a sustainable smoke-free public transport system in this month.
 
The programme was organized by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in collaboration with Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM).

According to a press release of the DAM, the training sessions were conducted in five phases throughout April at the BRTC bus depot in city’s Joarsahara area. The program, titled “Professional Skills and Awareness Development Training for Drivers,” focused on enhancing both professional competence and awareness among the transport workers.

During the sessions, Adut Rahman Imon, Program Officer of the organization’s Tobacco Control Project, presented an audiovisual material highlighting the implementation of tobacco control laws and the health risks associated with tobacco use. Participants were also briefed on the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026, which was passed in the Parliament on April 10 this year.

The training brought together the drivers of buses, CNGs, legunas and tempos. Participants were informed about the harmful effects of the active and passive smoking, the health risks of tobacco consumption and various aspects of the existing legal framework. 

The speakers also emphasized that smoking by drivers and their assistants exposes passengers especially the women and the children to secondhand smoking, posing serious health risks for them.

Through video presentations, the harmful impacts of smoking in public transport and the related legal obligations were clearly demonstrated. Awareness was also raised about the legal prohibition of smoking in public places and mass gathering areas, including bus terminals, airports, railway stations, seaports and government offices.

The statement further noted that such initiatives play a crucial role in effectively implementing smoke-free policies in public transport and bringing about behavioral change. The DAM will continue to carry out such programmes to safeguard public health.