The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has launched initiatives to train 68,000 drivers to improve road safety and expand employment opportunities at home and abroad.
The training programmes are being implemented under two separate initiatives, with funding from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Under the World Bank-funded Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BRSP), a total of 60,000 drivers will receive training. Of them, 40,000 young people will be trained as new professional drivers, while another 20,000 existing professional drivers will receive refresher training to upgrade their skills.
The programme will run from May 2026 to June 2028 through four BRTC training institutes and 23 training centres across the country.
The training centres are located in various areas, including Gazipur, Dhaka, Gopalganj, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Cumilla, Sylhet, Khulna and Rangpur.
Fatema Begum, general manager (ICWS and Training) at BRTC, said the initiative would play a significant role in developing skilled drivers and improving road safety nationwide.
Alongside the World Bank-funded project, BRTC will train another 8,000 new drivers under the ADB-funded Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.
The programme will place special emphasis on English and Arabic communication skills to help trainees access employment opportunities in Middle Eastern countries.
The training will comprise 360 hours of instruction, covering defensive driving, vehicle maintenance, identification of mechanical faults and other essential aspects of professional driving.
The initiative also includes a gender action plan aimed at preventing harassment of female passengers, raising awareness and encouraging more women to pursue driving as a profession.
BRTC is also working to expand its Pink Bus service, with initiatives to train women drivers. Although the initial response was limited, interest among women in receiving training and taking up driving as a profession has increased, officials said.
BRTC has previously trained drivers under the Skills for Employment Investment Programme (SEIP). According to information provided in an interview, the corporation trained around 47,500 people under that programme.
Regarding progress under the ongoing World Bank-funded project, Fatema Begum said approximately 6,400 new drivers had completed training in the first phase, while training for around 6,600 drivers was underway in the second phase.
She said the initiative would contribute to safer roads by improving professional driving standards, raising awareness of road safety and strengthening drivers' technical knowledge. The training would also help qualified candidates pursue employment opportunities in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP) began on July 1, 2024, with its first training phase starting on January 1, 2025.
According to BRTC, four phases of training have already been completed, while the fifth phase is underway with 650 trainees. A total of 2,850 people received training during the first four phases.
Participants who successfully complete the programme receive government-recognised certificates and professional driving licences free of charge. They are also provided with transport and meal allowances based on regular attendance.
The SICIP programme focuses primarily on motor driving and basic vehicle maintenance, equipping trainees with practical skills for professional driving and keeping vehicles operational.
BRTC officials said refresher training under the World Bank-funded BRSP would begin shortly at the corporation's training centres and institutes. Interested drivers have been advised to contact their nearest BRTC training centre to register for the programme.
