A total of 1905 public transport drivers have been trained under the initiative of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and with the support of the Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, with the aim of raising awareness about the health risks of tobacco use and ensuring proper implementation of the existing Tobacco Control Act (amended 2013).
According to a press release issued by Dhaka Ahsania Mission, a nine -phase training titled “Professional Skill Development and Awareness Training for Professional Drivers” was conducted this month at the BRTC Bus Depot in Zoar Sahara, Dhaka. In the training, Adut Rahman Imon, Program Officer of the Tobacco Control Project under the Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, presented an audiovisual documentary to professional drivers on the implementation of the tobacco control law and the health harms of tobacco use.
The training informed public transport drivers (bus, CNG, leguna, tempo) about the harms of direct and secondhand smoke, health risks, and the Tobacco Control Act. Passengers—especially women and children—are exposed to secondhand smoke inside public transport due to smoking by drivers and their assistants. As a result, even non-smokers suffer similar health risks. Through video presentations, participants were given a clear understanding of the dangers of smoking in public transport and the legal obligations that drivers must follow.
Smoking in public places such as bus terminals, airports, railway stations, river ports, various government offices, and other public gathering areas is legally a punishable offense. Many non-smokers—including children and women—are subjected to secondhand smoke due to active smokers in these places.
In order to keep public transport 100% tobacco-free and ensure enforcement of the law, Dhaka Ahsania Mission and BRTA have been jointly conducting this training program on a regular weekly basis.
