A total of 1,180 public transport drivers have been trained jointly by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) to raise awareness about health hazards of tobacco use and ensure proper implementation of the Tobacco Control Act (amended in 2013).
According to a press release issued by DAM today, the seven-phase training programme titled "Professional Skill Development and Awareness Training for Professional Drivers" was conducted this month at the BRTC Bus Depot in the Zoar Sahara area of the capital, with support from DAM's Health Sector.
During the training sessions, Adut Rahman Imon, Programme Officer of the Tobacco Control Project under DAM's Health Sector, presented an audiovisual documentary highlighting the harmful effects of tobacco use and key provisions of the tobacco control law.
The training sessions informed drivers of buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, legunas and tempos about the dangers of direct and secondhand smoke, associated health risks and their legal responsibilities under the existing law.
It was noted that passengers, particularly women and children, are frequently exposed to passive smoking inside public transport due to smoking by drivers and their assistants, which poses serious health risks even to non-smokers.
Through video presentations, participants were given a clear understanding of the consequences of smoking in public transport and the punishable nature of such offences under the law.
Smoking in public places, including bus terminals, airports, railway stations, river ports, government offices and other public gathering places, is prohibited under the Tobacco Control Act.
To ensure tobacco-free public transport and strengthen enforcement of the law, DAM and BRTA have been jointly conducting the training programme on a regular weekly basis, the release added.
