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A capacity-building program successfully trained 640 public transport drivers across four phases in late July 2026 to ensure a sustainable, smoke-free public transit network in the capital.
The training initiative, titled “Professional Skills and Awareness Development Training for Professional Drivers,” was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) at the Joar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in Dhaka.
The sessions targeted operators of buses, CNG auto-rickshaws, legunas, and tempos. Adut Rahman Imon, Program Officer of DAM’s Tobacco Control Project, delivered audio-visual presentations clarifying legal obligations and health hazards.
Organizers particularly focused on educating drivers about the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026, which was passed in the National Parliament on April 10, 2026.
Resource speakers emphasized that smoking by drivers and their assistants directly exposes commuters—particularly women and children—to harmful secondhand smoke. Through video demonstrations, participants reviewed the health risks associated with tobacco use alongside legal penalties for smoking in public places, including bus terminals, airports, railway stations, seaports, and government offices.
DAM representatives noted that targeted workshops play an essential role in driving behavioral change among transport workers, ensuring better compliance with public health mandates across Dhaka’s transit ecosystem.