In an effort to contain air pollution, the Environment Ministry has requested Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to remove the buses and minibuses older than 20-years as well as trucks and covered vans older than 25-years from the roads. Besides, it also asked BRTA to make emission testing mandatory during the issuance of fitness certificates for old diesel-powered buses and trucks. JS body recommends incorporating psychological tests while appointing BRTC drivers The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change sent a letter to BRTA in this regard, said a release from the ministry. The move came as part of several initiatives to control environmental pollution under the leadership of Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. In the letter, the BRTA has been requested to take steps to phase out vehicles that have exceeded their economic life and ensure mandatory emission testing for old diesel vehicles during their fitness checks.

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samiti (BJKS), a passengers' welfare platform, on Saturday (January 20, 2024) demanded the government introduce 5,000 new high-quality buses on the streets under a company with the government's management by removing existing rickety vehicles from the capital. Secretary General of the BJKS Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury raised the demand in a press conference organised at the city's Dhaka Reporters Unity on Saturday morning. In a written statement, he said that the current government has pledged that the country will join the ranks of developed countries by 2026. The government is determined to improve the public transport system in Dhaka and elsewhere. Quoting a JICA survey, the BJKS's secretary general said that there are currently 4 crore daily passenger trips in the capital. Consumer protection a top priority at DITF: Commerce State Minister There is a huge scope for transport business, and the transportation system of the city can be changed overnight through bus service if only extortion is stopped and dedicated bus lanes can be introduced, he said. There are examples of owning 600-800 buses of many transport companies in Bangladesh after they started plying on the streets with one bus. However, the state transport agency BRTC is not able to operate buses under its own management and is leasing them out to private individuals and institutions. The number of these buses is decreasing due to lack of maintenance, he added. Dutch NGOs reaffirm interests in Bangladesh He urged the government, instead of bureaucracy in the management of BRTC, if BRTC can be managed by appointing managers with technical knowledge and experience in managing bus companies from the international market. it will play a major role in the passenger transport sector besides making BRTC profitable, he said. The BJKS said that due to incompetence of leadership, inefficiency of management, lack of proper monitoring and monopolistic dominance of political contractors, corruption is going on. The new government has made political commitment to establish good governance in these sectors. ”We want to see the reflection of this commitment of the government by ensuring quality and accountability in every project involving road, rail, sea and air,” he added. Dengue claims two more lives

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched its bus service on the Uttara-Farmgate route via Dhaka Elevated Expressway on Monday (September 18, 2023). Road Transport and Highways Division secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri inaugurated the bus service at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. Chairman of BRTC Md Tajul Islam was also present. After the inauguration, the first bus left from Farmgate's Khejur Bagan Golchattar for Uttara Jasimuddin Road at 11:25 am. Read: Traffic jam at landing points as Dhaka Elevated Expressway opens Initially, a total of eight buses will carry passengers and commuters can board the buses from both ends of the expressway. The buses will run all day from 7am in the morning and will continue as long as passengers are available. On September 2, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Airport-Farmgate segment of Dhaka Elevated Expressway. Read: Elevated expressway a big step towards Smart Bangladesh: Korean Ambassador About 80,000 vehicles will be able to use Dhaka Elevated Expressway every day once it is completed, project officials said. When fully completed, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway will run from the capital’s Kawla to Kutubkhali area of Dhaka-Chattogram highway via Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Moghbazar-Kamalapur-Sayedabad-Jatrabari, according to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will launch ‘Eid special service’ from Friday (April 14, 2023) to ensure smooth and comfortable journey of Eid holidaymakers like the previous year. The special service will continue till April 23, said a release of BRTC on Tuesday (April 11, 2023). The selling of advance tickets of BRTC buses began on April 9 from Motijheel, JoarShahara, Kalyanpur, Gabtoli, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Gazipur and Narayanganj bus depots (Chashara). Tickets of journey on Dhaka-Khulna, Daudkandi, Damudya, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Netrokona routes will be available from Motijheel Bus depot. Read: Eid vacation extended by a day The passengers can avail their BRTC tickets from Kalyanpur depot for using Dhaka-Rangpur, Panchagarh, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Netrakona, Ranisankail, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur routes. The tickets for the buses on Dhaka- Bhanga, Gopalganj, Barishal, Doshmina, Aricha, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Aricha and Paturia and Jashore routes will be available at Gabtoli Depot while tickets for Dhaka-Poyshar Haat, Bishwa Road-Panchdona, Rangpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Tangail, Mymensingh and Bogura routes can be purchased from Joarshahara Bus Depot. People can purchase their desired tickets from Mirpur Bus Depot for journey on Dhaka-Barishal, Rangpur, Kushtia, Bogura, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and Naogaon routes while tickets for Dhaka-Shariatpur, Faridpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura and Naogaon routes will be available at Mohammadpur bus depot. Read More: Sadarghat launch terminal to see 27 lakh passengers’ pressure during Eid: Nat’l Committee Meanwhile, tickets for the routes of Bishwa Road-Pachdona, Tangail, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Kurigram route will be available from Gazipur bus depot while tickets for Dhaka-Rangpur, Shariatpur routes will be available from Jatrabari Bus depot. Tickets for the route of Dhaka-Gosairhat, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Naogaon, Bogura, Gaibanhda and Pabna will be available from Narayanganj bus depot while Narsingdi-Madaripur, Charmuguria and Rangpur routes will be available at Narsingdi bus depot. Besides, 60 buses will remain standby at different depots or terminals for providing emergency services from April 18, it said. Read More: Heavy traffic expected on Sirajganj highway if renovation work not completed before Eid

As the nation's much-awaited first metro rail is scheduled to start operation partially in the city (Uttara-Agargaon segment) on Wednesday, Mariam Afiza will emerge as the first metro train operator of the Mass Rapid Transit line-6. Six women were appointed as metro rail operators among others and Dhaka Mass Transit Company has already completed their training.  Afiza has completed her master's degree from Noakhali Science and Technology University in Chemistry. She was appointed as an operator of metro rail on November 2 last year.  “She received a two-month training at Bangladesh Railway Training Academy in Chattogram’s Halishahar. She returned to Dhaka and completed another four months of training,” said MAN Siddique, Managing Director of Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).  Also Read: Metro Rail: DMP to provide security till specialised unit is formed “Now she is taking technical and practical training at the metro rail depot in Uttara’s Diabari. She received training round the year,” he continued. Experts of metro rail construction company Mitsubishi-Kawasaki of Japan are also giving training to the operators on technical and practical issues at the metro rail depot in Uttara’s Diabari, he added. MAN Siddique also told UNB that Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation(BRTC) will operate 50 double-decker buses to transport passengers to and from metro stations.  BRTC signed an agreement with Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) in this regard recently.  BRTC will provide bus service from Diabaria-Uttara House Building and Motijheel-Agargaon, he said.  In the first phase, a limited number of trains carrying fewer passengers will operate for a short period in the morning and afternoon and the speed will be slower than usual for three months, as a period to get accustomed, said Siddique. The trains will wait for a bit longer than usual at the station at first to help passengers become accustomed with the new seating and ticketing system. With the increase in the number of trains the train will wait for less time at stations cutting the travel time, he added. In the beginning, the train will not stop at all stations. The train will leave the Uttara station and stop at Pallabi, and then it will go to Agargaon without stopping. Stopping of trains at intermediate stations will start later, he said. Also Read: Dhaka Metro Rail launch: From ticketing to seating – things to know Up to 17,000 passengers can travel daily initially, said DMTCL, and they can easily travel standing in the 9.5 feet wide space between the seats at both sides. According to a Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP), DMTCL plans to introduce six metro rail routes in Dhaka by 2030, with a total length of 128.74km serving a network of 104 stations -53 underground and 51 elevated. Construction on the six metro rail lines is underway accordingly.  The MRT police unit will be formed to ensure the security of the entire network in future, when upto 5 million passengers will use the service every day.      

Bangladesh national women's team is back home after winning the SAFF Women’s Football Championship, beating Nepal in the final.  The team reached Dhaka around 1:50 pm today.  Before the flight arrived in Dhaka, thousands of supporters arrived in groups and waited outside Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. They were shouting slogans, congratulating the girls. Read Victory Parade for Tigresses: Which route will the open-deck “Champion’s Bus” take? Bangladesh beat Maldives, Pakistan, India and Nepal on their way to the ultimate victory. Bangladesh scored 23 goals in the event and conceded only one in the final. 

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has published a job circular for the recruitment of manpower. The company will hire 200 workers on temporary basis for the post of conductor, grade-D (counterman). Interested and eligible candidates should apply online. Position Name: Conductor, Grade-D (Counterman) Number of posts: 200 Eligibility: Must have passed SSC or equivalent examination. Job type: Temporary. Salary scale: TK.6,800-21,310 (grade-16). Apart from this there are other facilities. Districts where candidates do not need to apply: Narayanganj, Bogra, Meherpur, Barisal, Jhalokati, Pirojpur (excluding orphans and physically challenged). Age limit: The age limit of the candidates is 18 to 30 years (February 8, 2022). The age limit for children of heroic freedom fighters or martyred freedom fighters and physically challenged candidates is 32 years. Also read: International NGO Job Circular : Jobs in ActionAid in multiple positions How to apply Interested candidates need to fill up the application form from this website. Detailed rules for application and payment of application fee can be found from this link. http://www.brtc.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/brtc.portal.gov.bd/notices/3c52529e_d665_4f6f_bf24_c6a16008c1dd/2022-01-09-07-35-ae1e425525808871054290ea6dd671eb.pdf Application fee : Application fee of  TK.150 / - must be submitted within 72 hours of filling up the online application form via SMS from Teletalk prepaid mobile phone.   Application deadline: February 8, 2022, until 5 p.m. Also read: Jobs in Bkash: Digital Marketing Job Circular

In response to the demand of students, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has decided to reduce fares by 50 per cent in BRTC buses across the country, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader. Obaidul Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, revealed the information at a press briefing at his residence on Friday morning. On November 3, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per litre prompting the transporters to enforce an indefinite strike in the country on November 7 demanding a hike in bus fares. READ:  Demo for half bus fare: Students give 48-hour ultimatum Amid the worsening public woes caused by the transport strike, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) raised the bus fares of intra-city and inter-district buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively. Following the fare hike, students started demonstrating in the city streets demanding half fares in public transport for them. Hundreds of students, particularly from Dhaka College, took to the streets to press home their demand.

The government is working on a plan to allow the public transport to resume operations once the current lockdown is over, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday. The minister said this at a views-exchange meeting with the officials of Barishal Road Zone, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). Quader joined the meeting virtually from his official residence. Also read: Govt allows public transport to operate during lockdown Bus owners and workers will face toughest action if any bus carries passengers more than 50 percent of its capacity or charges additional fare, the minister warned.

The joint committee of transport owners and workers of Rajshahi Division on Saturday announced an indefinite strike from November 1, to press for an eight-point charter.