Regular driver screening urged

State Minister for the Road Transport and Highways Division and Ministry of Railways Habibur Rashid Habib has emphasised the need to ensure drivers' physical fitness and clear vision as part of efforts to reduce road accident risks. Speaking at an event held on Fraiday, marking National Road Safety Day 2026, he called for regular eye examinations and access to corrective eyeglasses for drivers to help protect passengers. 

He also urged authorities to give greater attention to vision screening during the issuance and renewal of driving licences.

VisionSpring Bangladesh organised the stakeholder engagement and advocacy event at Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel under its “See to Be Safe” initiative. Government representatives, transport-sector leaders, development partners and road safety stakeholders attended the programme. A key objective was to strengthen collaboration to make regular vision screening and corrective eyeglasses more accessible to professional drivers.

Addressing the event as chief guest, Habibur Rashid Habib said driver health and vision deserved attention alongside road infrastructure, law enforcement and traffic management.

“When a driver takes the steering wheel, the lives of hundreds of passengers depend on them. Therefore, ensuring a driver has clear vision is not just about helping one individual; it is about safeguarding the lives of countless passengers. VisionSpring’s initiative is highly commendable in this regard, as road safety is not merely a matter of transportation; it is directly linked to human lives, public safety, and the country’s economic progress.

“I myself had my eyes examined and received a pair of glasses through this initiative. Vision screening and regular healthcare should be ensured for drivers, particularly during the issuance and renewal of driving licences. At the same time, compliance with traffic laws, improved driving skills, and adequate rest for drivers must be prioritised. Building safer roads requires collective efforts from the government, transport owners’ and workers’ organisations, and partner institutions,” he said.

The programme featured a presentation on VisionSpring’s mission, vision and project progress, followed by a session on the importance of clear vision for road safety. A panel discussion titled “Promoting Road Safety Through Better Vision” was also held.

The panel included Misha Mahjabeen, Managing Director of VisionSpring Bangladesh; Md. Humayun Kabir Khan, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation; Md. Saiful Alam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association; Mir Ahmed Tarikul Omar, Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC); Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA); and Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, Executive Director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA). The discussion was facilitated by Shahroz Jalil, Project Director of VisionSpring.

Misha Mahjabeen said more than 20 million people in Bangladesh experience vision problems because they lack access to necessary eyeglasses. A significant number of them are drivers. Poor vision is one of the risk factors contributing to road accidents, making regular eye screening and access to appropriate eyeglasses important components of road safety.

She said VisionSpring had been working in Bangladesh since 2006 and had provided reading glasses to five million people. The organisation's goal, she added, was not only to improve people's vision but also to make the country's roads safer by expanding access to eye care services for drivers.

VisionSpring's “See to Be Safe” programme provides vision screening for drivers and transport workers, with the aim of reducing road risks associated with uncorrected vision problems.

According to VisionSpring, by September 2026, the programme had screened more than 30,000 drivers and transport-sector workers in Bangladesh. More than 24,000 people who required vision correction had received eyeglasses.

When the programme was launched in Bangladesh, it set a two-year target of screening 50,000 bus and truck drivers and providing 30,000 pairs of eyeglasses.

Special guests at the event included Dr. Mohammed Ziaul Haque, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division; Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP and Chief Coordinator of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners–Workers Coordination Council; Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, Executive Director of DTCA; Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Chairman of BRTA; Mir Ahmed Tarikul Omar, Chairman of BRTC; Md. Saiful Alam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association; and Md. Humayun Kabir Khan, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.

The programme concluded with an open stakeholder discussion, recognition of contributing organisations and a renewed call for collective action to integrate eye health more closely into Bangladesh's road safety initiatives.

//DBTech/AZC/SME/MVNO//