BRTA, Ahsania Mission train drivers on tobacco risks
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), in partnership with the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector, has trained 815 public transport drivers on the health risks of tobacco use and the enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act (Amended 2013).
Adut Rahman Emon, programme officer for the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, presented a documentary highlighting the implementation of tobacco control laws and the health hazards faced by professional drivers.
The presentation formed part of the "Professional Skills and Awareness-Raising Training for Professional Drivers", organised in six phases at Joar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in Dhaka on 26 March.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Drivers of buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, lagunas and tempos received information about the dangers of direct and passive smoking, related health risks, and the provisions of tobacco control legislation.
Organisers emphasised that smoking by drivers and assistants in public transport exposes passengers—particularly women and children—to passive smoking, causing similar health risks for non-smokers.
Video presentations detailed the harmful effects of smoking in public transport and outlined the legal obligations regarding tobacco use.
Smoking in public areas—including bus terminals, airports, railway stations, seaports, government offices and other communal spaces—is a punishable offence under the Tobacco Control Act.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission and BRTA stated that these weekly training sessions aim to make public transport fully tobacco-free and ensure proper enforcement of tobacco control laws.
