Govt to overhaul driving licence system with mandatory training

The government is set to introduce major reforms in the process of obtaining driving licences, including a mandatory 60-hour training programme aimed at improving drivers' understanding of traffic rules, road signs, and vehicle control.
The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen road safety and reduce the rising number of accidents across the country.
Under the new system, existing driving test committees and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority's (BRTA) control over driving training will be scrapped.
Instead, the government plans to roll out an international-standard driving licence system, which could come into effect as early as next month.
"We hope to launch the new driving licence programme next month," said Mohammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser for Rail, Road Transport and Bridges, while speaking at a discussion marking National Road Safety Day 2025 at the Roads and Highways Department in Tejgaon on Wednesday.
The theme of the event was: "Quality helmets and safe speed reduce loss of life and wealth."
The adviser described the country's high rate of road accidents as "a national failure," revealing that an average of 16 road accidents occur daily, leaving 27 people dead and 38 injured between 2015 and 2025.
Explaining details of the new licensing plan, the adviser said all aspiring drivers would be required to receive certified training from approved institutes such as the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and other authorised facilities.
"BRTA will no longer control the training programmes," he said, adding that lessons on traffic laws, road signs, and practical driving skills would be prioritised in the curriculum.
Mr Khan also emphasised the importance of wearing quality helmets, noting a surge in motorcycle-related accidents and fatalities in recent years. As part of the safety drive, around 10,000 helmets will be distributed during National Road Day in November.
He further noted that efforts to remove unfit vehicles from the roads have been ongoing and will be intensified. "Vehicle owners must ensure their vehicles remain fit to guarantee safe driving."
Expressing frustration over delays in compensating road accident victims, the adviser reminded that, under transport regulations, the families of deceased victims are entitled to Tk 500,000 in compensation.
He directed the BRTA to ensure that payments are made without requiring families to apply.
Fouzul Kabir also underscored the need for better coordination among all relevant agencies, saying road safety cannot be ensured by one authority alone.
Sharing a personal experience, he mentioned that traffic congestion in Sarail was resolved within two days of his visit simply by enforcing discipline among road users.
Among those attending the meeting were Khoda Bokhs Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Home Affairs; Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Secretary of the Bridges Division; Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of BRTA; Syed Moinul Hasan, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department; and Saiful Alam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association.

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