Home ›› 03 Jan 2023 ›› Front
From now on, helpers and conductors of public transports must acquire licences from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to be appointed for the jobs, according to the newly formulated rules of the Road Transport Act- 2018.
The rules also state that drivers will need a separate permission from BRTA, in addition to their driving licence, to operate public transports.
The authorities issued a gazette on the rules on December 27, more than four years after the enactment of the act in September 2018.
However, when contacted, BRTA Spokesperson Mahbub-E-Rabbani said they are yet to get a copy of the gazette notification. “We have already introduced a licensing system for helpers and conductors. But only a few people applied and received the licences. I think after publishing these rules, the rate of acquiring those licences will be higher,” he told The Business Post.
Under the rules, an aspiring public transport driver needs to file an application with the BRTA with a copy of a valid driving licence, a copy of the appointment letter by the vehicle owner and an experience certificate.
To be a public transport driver, the applicant must have two years of light vehicle driving experience. They then have to pass a test arranged by the BRTA. Drivers with licence of operating heavy vehicles will not have to sit for the test.
A three-member committee formed by the BRTA will examine the applicants’ qualifications and grant them permission.
Meanwhile, a conductor must pass the junior school certificate to be eligible for applying for the BRTA licence, while helpers must have completed the fifth grade. The validity of their licences will be five years.
The rules mandate that nobody under 20-years-old is eligible to be appointed as an assistant- helper or conductor- to the driver.
Besides, conductor and helper licence applicants will need to be healthy both mentally and physically, states the new rules, adding that they applicants must not have any disability that may hamper their ability to carry out the duties. In addition, they will need to have primary knowledge about first aid.
Furthermore, according to the rules, the authorities may cancel the licence of conductor and helper if their behaviour and character is found to be problematic, and if they fail to carry out their duties.
In case of rejecting an application or revoking a licence, the authorities will provide an explanation in writing. The applicant can file an appeal within 30 days into the rejection.
8-hour workday with a break
The new rules mandate that public transport workers will not work more than eight hours a day and maximum 48 hours in a week.
Moreover, no worker is allowed to drive the vehicle more than five hours at a stretch. They will be able to resume driving after a half an hour break.
Meanwhile, under the new rules, public transport owners are not allowed to appoint a driver without a BRTA permission and a licence.
Also, owners are now required to provide drivers with an appointment letter and identity card. The appointment will be under a written contract. In addition, all employees will need to have a dope test certificate to be appointed.
