News Flash
DHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said excessive use of horns causes the greatest harm to drivers themselves as 65 percent of drivers in the country suffer from hearing impairment.
She made these remarks while speaking as a special guest at the inauguration of the training programme titled "Skill Development and Awareness Training on Noise Pollution for Professional Transport Drivers/Workers" at the BRTC Training Institute in the capital's Tejgaon.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) organized the training programme under the Integrated and Participatory Project to Control Noise Pollution (3rd Revised).
Road Transport and Bridges and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan addressed the event as the chief guest.
Rizwana, also adviser for Information and Broadcasting and Water Resources ministries, said for the first time, a practical, partnership-based initiative has been launched to control noise pollution through training drivers.
"In the 54 years of the country's reality, we have done very little effective work to protect the environment. Rising above this reality, drivers must realize the importance of this initiative by receiving proper training to make this year's effort successful," she said.
In his address, Fouzul Kabir Khan described deaths from road accidents as his greatest personal anguish, stating that road accidents continue to rise every year in the country while effective measures to reduce them have not been implemented.
Under the new regulations, mandatory 60 hours of training is being introduced for drivers. Through this training, licenses will be issued only to qualified drivers following assessments of driving skills, physical fitness, eyesight, and other health examinations.
Speaking as a special guest, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Railways Dr. Sheik Moinuddin said the transport sector is extremely important for a country's overall development, but in Bangladesh this sector has long remained disorderly.
The current government has taken various initiatives to bring discipline to the sector, one of the key measures being the mandatory driver training programme.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed was also present as the special guest with BRTA Chairman Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed in the chair.
Senior government officials, leaders of transport owners' and workers' associations, representatives of civil society, government and non-government officials were also present.
