BRTC to train 68,000 drivers to improve road safety and employment.
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will train 68,000 drivers under two separate programmes aimed at improving road safety, developing skilled professional drivers, and expanding employment opportunities at home and abroad.
Under the World Bank-funded Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BSRP), a total of 60,000 drivers will receive training. Of them, 40,000 will be trained as new professional drivers, while 20,000 existing professional drivers will receive refresher training to improve their skills.
The training programme is scheduled to run from May 2026 to June 2028. Training will be delivered through BRTC’s four training institutes and 23 training centres.
Fatima Begum, General Manager (ICWS) at BRTC, told BSS that the initiative would help develop skilled drivers and contribute to improving road safety across the country.
In addition to the World Bank-funded project, BRTC will train an additional 8,000 new drivers under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP).
This initiative will place particular emphasis on developing communication skills in English and Arabic to help trainees pursue employment opportunities in Middle Eastern countries.
The training programme will comprise 360 hours of instruction, covering defensive driving, vehicle maintenance, identifying mechanical problems, and other essential aspects of professional driving.
It will also include a gender action plan, raising awareness to prevent harassment of female passengers, and initiatives to encourage more women to enter the driving profession. The possibility of introducing pink buses for women on a large scale has also been discussed.
BRTC has previous experience in driver training through the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP). Under that programme, the corporation trained approximately 47,500 people.
Regarding progress under the World Bank-funded project, Fatima Begum said the first round of training for around 6,400 new drivers had been completed, while training for approximately 6,600 drivers in the second round is underway.
The initiative is expected to contribute to safer roads by improving professional driving standards, raising awareness of road safety, and strengthening drivers’ technical knowledge. The overseas employment component may also help qualified trainees access job opportunities in the Middle East.
The SICIP project began on July 1, 2024, while training under its first round commenced on January 1, 2025. According to the BRTC, four rounds have been completed, with the fifth phase underway.
The SICIP programme focuses on motor driving and basic vehicle maintenance, providing trainees with practical skills relevant to professional driving and vehicle upkeep.
Under the first round of the programme, 6,400 trainees were targeted for the four-month training through four BRTC training facilities.
The project operates through BRTC training facilities. The training network includes facilities in Gazipur, Dhaka, Gopalganj, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Cumilla, Sylhet, Khulna, Rangpur and other districts.
Participants who successfully complete the road safety programme’s training are entitled to a government-recognised training certificate and a professional driving licence free of charge. The trainees also get transport and tiffin allowances based on regular attendance.
Refresher training under BRSP would begin shortly at the corporation's training institutes and centres, with interested drivers encouraged to contact their nearest facility for registration information, said BRTC officials.
BRTC sets two training schedules for May-August 2026 and September–December 2026.
These schedules list projected or planned trainee numbers across the 27 training institutes and centres, with reported totals of 6,400 and 6,600 respectively.
