Ten women received professional driver certification from BRAC on Tuesday as policymakers, transport regulators and development practitioners called for greater investment in skills development and wider acceptance of women drivers in Bangladesh’s transport sector.
The certifications were awarded at an event titled Women Behind the Wheel: Celebrating Achievement, Advancing Road Safety and Inclusive Transport, held at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka. Organised by BRAC’s Road Safety Programme, the event marked the completion of professional driver training for a new group of women drivers and highlighted the continuing shortage of trained women in the profession.
Despite growing interest among women in learning to drive, the number of licensed women drivers remains relatively low, while professional women drivers remain rare, speakers said. They noted that expanding women’s participation in the profession could improve mobility, create employment opportunities and strengthen financial independence, but would require quality training and changes in social attitudes.
Habibur Rashid, State Minister for the Ministry of Railways and the Road Transport and Highways Division, attended as chief guest. Anna Minj, Member of Parliament, and Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, were present as special guests. The event was chaired by Tamara Hasan Abed, Managing Director of BRAC Enterprises.
The newly certified drivers completed a three-month residential programme at BRAC Driving School, receiving both practical and theoretical training using modern technological facilities. The programme also included English language instruction as well as sessions on gender awareness and safeguarding. According to BRAC, a further three months of apprenticeship training was completed under experienced drivers through the organisation’s Transport Department.
So far, BRAC Driving School has trained 159 women as professional drivers, equipping them with driving, life and employability skills, said a press release.
In his remarks, Habibur Rashid said women’s participation in the transport sector had long been constrained by social barriers and stereotypes. He said the government was pursuing a range of initiatives, including technology-based traffic management, speed control measures, safer road infrastructure and modernisation of public transport systems. Alongside those efforts, he said, employment opportunities for women were being expanded through women-only bus services, professional driver training and measures to facilitate licensing.
He also highlighted BRAC’s work in driver training, motorcycle riding instruction, research and advocacy, particularly its contribution to improving safety for women in public transport and public spaces. Addressing the newly qualified drivers, he described them as examples of women’s capabilities and paid tribute to BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.
Anna Minj said the initiative represented an important example of women’s empowerment but identified two major challenges. Society, she said, remains reluctant to accept women as drivers of buses and other public transport vehicles, while facilities such as toilets and other essential amenities for women remain inadequate in many public spaces.
BRTA Chairman Mohammad Habibur Rahman said the authority was working to create a more supportive environment for both women passengers and women drivers. He said qualified women drivers would receive necessary support during the licensing process and that efforts were under way to make licensing procedures more women-friendly while maintaining safety standards.
Tamara Hasan Abed said the event reflected a shared commitment to women’s empowerment, road safety and inclusive transport. She added that greater attention should now be given to creating employment opportunities for trained women drivers both in Bangladesh and abroad, noting growing international demand for qualified women drivers. She suggested that combining driving skills with basic nursing and caregiving training could improve access to overseas employment opportunities.
Ahmed Najmul Hussain, Director of BRAC’s Road Safety Programme, presented an overview of the initiative and said the programme continues to operate in line with the vision established by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.
BRAC’s Road Safety Programme has operated since 2001 with a focus on improving road user safety through awareness campaigns and training. It also works to prevent violence against women and sexual harassment in public transport through awareness-building initiatives and capacity development programmes.
Since its establishment in 2012, BRAC Driving School has provided defensive driving training to more than 13,500 participants, general driving training to more than 12,500 people and instructor training to 409 individuals.
