BRAC

BRAC

BRAC is a global development organization founded in Bangladesh in 1972, renowned for its comprehensive, integrated approach to poverty alleviation and empowerment, operating in 11 countries across Asia and Africa and partnering with over 100 million people. Its work encompasses social development programs, social enterprises, humanitarian response, a bank, and a university, all aimed at creating opportunities for people to realize their potential and build resilience, particularly in marginalized communities and post-disaster settings.

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Social development

Eliminating extreme poverty

Expanding financial choices

Humanitarian crisis management

Climate change and emergencies

Gender equality

Universal access to healthcare

Pro-poor urban development

Investing in the next generation

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Contact us

BRAC Centre, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212.
Tel: 88 02 2222 81265. E-mail: info@brac.net

What we do

Where we work

  • Bangladesh
  • Afganistan
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Sierraleon
  • South Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • MyAnmar
  • Phillipens
  • Rwanda

Contact us

Bangladesh/Headquarters

BRAC Centre
75 Mohakhali,
Dhaka-1212
Bangladesh
Communications
Tel: 88 02 2222 81265.
Fax: 88 02 2222 63542
E-mail: info@brac.net


Human Resources
Tel: 88 02 2222 81265
Help Line: 8801755692023-4 (9am to 5pm, Bangladesh Standard Time

BRAC ROAD SAFETY Program:

Sustainable development goal 3.6 is to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020. The road safety record of Bangladesh is a struggling scenario at present. According to the reported accidents to the Bangladeshi police in 2014, 2027 accidents occurred in that year resulting in 2,067 deaths. These data are recognized and used by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), but it may be noted from the  BRTA website that they are virtually incomplete, as some accidents in the country side are not reported to the police. The actual number of traffic fatalities is much higher. In 2001, BRAC initiated its Road Safety Programme with a long-term vision to identify root causes and tackle this issue via a multi-sectoral engagement approach. The programme conceived and implemented a community road safety approach and operates a driving school that offers various trainings to promote the road safety condition in Bangladesh. Additionally, the advocacy facet of the programme catalyses awareness and action amongst policy makers and communities. This is intended to bring about motivation, education and autonomy in the community to garner a sense of ownership of its own road safety issues.
Goal: Reduce poverty by lessening the number of road crashes in Bangladesh.

Approach: Reducing road crashes through training of drivers, instructors, and communities living in road crash prone zones.

The BRAC Road Safety Programme and its Driving School were established to address the growing socio-economic need to reduce road crashes. The programme offers a range of training initiatives, including basic driving and defensive driving courses for drivers and motorcyclists, road safety education for community members and youth, awareness sessions for school children, and targeted training for community leaders and volunteers. Developed through action research in partnership with the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory in 2004, the programme focuses on education and awareness campaigns targeting populations living near high-risk road crash black spots on major highways. Key beneficiaries include students, teachers, youth groups, volunteer organizations, motorized and non-motorized drivers, members of District and Sub-District Road Safety Committees, housewives, and local shopkeepers.

Initiatives Under BRAC Driving School:

BRAC Driving School

BRAC Driving School: Professional Training for Safer Roads

Following a series of tragic road crashes in 2011 that claimed the lives of 50 school children and two prominent media figures, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) identified the urgent need to improve driver training in Bangladesh. In response, BRAC, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), was tasked with developing a structured driver training programme.

Launched in 2012, BRAC Driving School was established to enhance road safety by training skilled drivers and certified instructors. With technical support from Hubert Ebner (India) Pvt. Ltd., BRAC designed a comprehensive curriculum and conducted Training of Trainers (ToT) to ensure instructional quality.

The school integrates modern technology—including driving simulators, a visual impairment assessment system, and the P-Drive digital testing device—to deliver hands-on, effective training. Today, BRAC Driving School plays a key role in promoting responsible driving practices and reducing road traffic crashes across Bangladesh.

Driver’s training for women “Four Wheels to Freedom”

BRAC’s commitment to women’s empowerment is deeply rooted in its values and reflected through initiatives like the Four Wheels to Freedom, implemented by BRAC Driving School. Designed to equip underprivileged and marginalized women with income-generating skills, the project offers professional driver training as a pathway to financial independence and inclusion in a male-dominated sector.

Through a structured two-month residential programme, 147 women received hands-on training in defensive driving, road safety, and vehicle maintenance. Upon successful completion, participants are awarded BRTA-certified professional driving licenses. Many of these trained women are now employed as professional chauffeurs in reputed INGOs, multinational companies, banks, and other institutions across Bangladesh—driving change for themselves and their communities.

SHUROKKHA-Defensive Driving Training

As highlighted in the 2012 NRTA report, heavy vehicles were involved in 1,263 fatal road crashes in that year alone. A significant portion of highway accidents in Bangladesh continue to involve buses, goods carriers, human haulers, and other forms of heavy transport.

Recognizing that road safety cannot be ensured by infrastructure or public awareness alone—without skilled, trained, and safety-conscious drivers—BRAC’s Road Safety Programme launched Shurokkha. This fully residential training is designed for in-service commercial bus and truck drivers, the majority of whom have never received formal, institutional driving education. In Bangladesh, many drivers learn through informal apprenticeships under experienced but uncertified mentors, leading to critical gaps in their understanding of road safety rules and professional driving practices. Shurokkha aims to bridge this gap by equipping drivers with the technical skills, defensive driving techniques, and right mindset needed to operate safely on the roads.

Japan Drivers Training:

BRAC Driving School is implementing a specialized driver training programme in Bangladesh to equip aspiring professional drivers with the skills and certifications necessary for employment under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Program. Over a 36-month period, the initiative aims to deliver comprehensive, industry-aligned training that prepares participants to meet international standards required in Japan’s professional driving sector. By addressing labor shortages abroad and expanding global employment opportunities for Bangladeshi citizens, this initiative contributes to workforce mobility, economic development, and improved livelihoods for young individuals across the country.

On Going Projects and Initiatives:

Project Title: Advocating Legislative Change to Improve Safe Road User Behavior in Bangladesh
Donor: Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP)

Bangladesh has one of the highest road crash fatality rates globally, with a significant rise between 1990 and 2017—particularly among males aged 15–49. According to the World Bank, the per capita fatality rate in Bangladesh increased three times faster than the South Asian average, and 15 times faster for the highest-risk demographic. Risky road user behaviors’—such as speeding, non-standard helmet use, lack of seat belts and child restraints, and drink driving—identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) remain key contributors to these preventable deaths and injuries. This project aims to address these critical issues through the enactment of a Comprehensive Road Safety Law (CRSL) by 2025, aligned with the SDGs, the Global Plan, and Bangladesh’s national road safety commitments. It also supports the effective implementation of the Bangladesh Helmet Standards 2022 and the review and revision of the motorcycle helmet standard in collaboration with the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). By fostering active engagement and advocacy with government and non-government stakeholders, the project—supported by GRSP—seeks to create a safer road environment by promoting stronger legislation and behavioral change.

Bangladesh ranks among the highest globally for road crash fatalities—experiencing a significant rise in fatality rates between 1990 and 2017. During this time, the increase in the road crash fatality rate per capita was three times higher in Bangladesh than that across South Asia, according to a World Bank report. For the highest-risk group—males between the ages of 15 and 49 years—the rate of increase in Bangladesh was 15 times higher than that across the region, it said.

A major cause behind these incidents is five risky road user behaviors identified by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as speeding, the use of non-standard helmets, neglecting seat belts and child restraints and drink driving. This project aims to strengthen road safety legislation in Bangladesh by introducing a Road Safety Law based on the globally practiced Safe System Approach, addressing five critical behavioral risk factors for road users.

Project Objectives:

  • Enactment of a Comprehensive Road Safety Law (CRSL) by 2025, in alignment with the SDGs, the Global Plan, and Bangladesh’s national commitments to road safety.
  • Effective implementation of Bangladesh Helmet Standards 2022 to reduce road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2025.
  • Review and support the revision of the newly introduced Motorcycle Helmet Standard in collaboration with Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) by 2025.
  • Foster robust support from key government and non-government stakeholders for the CRSL and Helmet Standards, in partnership with Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) grantees.

Key Achievements

  • Sensitised 200 bus owners and workers on critical road safety issues annually during 2022, 2023, and 2024.
  • Organised awareness programmes on road safety issues among 1,200 BRAC University students in 2022 and 2023, and observed a growing number of students reaching out to work on road safety issues.
  • Increased awareness of helmet standards by 40% among policymakers from BSTI, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the Ministry of Law, the Roads and Highways Department, and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Drafting of the Helmet Standards Enforcement Guideline is approximately 50% complete.
  • Drafting of the Comprehensive Road Safety Law is approximately 60% complete.

Our Partners:

BRAC’s Road Safety programme collaborates closely with the Road Safety Coalition platform including other GRSP grantees in Bangladesh. Adopting the Safe System Approach, the coalition works to enhance road safety across the country. This approach considers five elements of a safe transportation system: safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care in an integrated and holistic manner.

The Road Safety Coalition partners include BRAC,  Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh, National Heart Foundation, Bangladesh Orthopedic Society, Steps Towards Development, and Dhaka International University.

SHIKHA Project: Promoting Safety and Dignity for Women and Girls


Funded by the European Union and led by BRAC, the SHIKHA Project aims to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across six districts—Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Rajshahi. Engaging 250 RMG factories, 250 secondary schools, 20 universities, and 120 civil society organizations, the project strengthens prevention and response mechanisms in workplaces, educational institutions, public spaces, and online platforms through improved policies, legal frameworks, civil society engagement, and behaviour change.

As a key contributor, the BRAC Road Safety Programme is enhancing safety in public transport—one of the critical areas where women face daily risks. Through awareness campaigns, training for transport workers, and gender-responsive interventions, the programme supports SHIKHA’s mission of ensuring safer and harassment-free mobility for women and girls.

LIFE Project:

The BRAC Road Safety Programme has launched the LIFE (Livelihood Improvement through Focused Engagement) project to improve road safety along the Faridpur–Rajbari Road by enhancing awareness among vulnerable road users and strengthening community involvement. Covering a 60 km stretch across Faridpur Sadar, Bhanga, Nagarkanda, and Rajbari Sadar, the project supports SDGs 3 and 17 by implementing key interventions such as Drivers’ Vision Screening—which has identified and treated undiagnosed vision impairments among drivers—and Community Speed Watch, which empowers local volunteers to monitor speeding in high-risk areas. These initiatives have led to greater compliance with speed limits, reduced vision-related crashes, and stronger community ownership of road safety.

ToT of E-Rickshaw Drivers:

The BRAC Road Safety Programme has conducted a targeted training initiative to enhance the skills and safety awareness of e-rickshaw drivers, who are vital to providing affordable and eco-friendly transportation in urban and peri-urban areas. Many drivers currently operate without formal training, leading to increased traffic violations and safety risks. In response, and following a key meeting on April 10, 2025, with Dhaka South City Corporation, BRAC was entrusted to implement a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme addressing critical issues such as safe driving practices, parking management, speed control, lane discipline, and traffic rule compliance. The first phase successfully trained 200 Master Trainers, and as per the April 22, 2025 follow-up meeting, the initiative is now being scaled up to train 300 Master Trainers in 15 batches. A standardized training module has been developed to ensure quality and consistency. This programme is specifically designed to prepare drivers for the newly developed e-rickshaws by BUET, which will soon be launched in selected pilot areas including Uttara, Paltan, and Jatrabari—aiming to improve road safety, operational efficiency, and the overall quality of public transport services.

Research on Promoting female motorcyclists in Bangladesh:

The BRAC Road Safety Programme, in collaboration with the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), is undertaking a World Bank-funded research initiative aimed at promoting female motorcyclists in Bangladesh. This project seeks to identify the key barriers and challenges women face in adopting motorcycles as a mode of personal and professional mobility. Through a series of focus group discussions, stakeholder consultations, and qualitative field research, the initiative is exploring social, infrastructural, policy, and cultural factors that hinder female participation. So far, the research team has conducted preliminary literature reviews, expert interviews, and field-level consultations with female riders, trainers, traffic police, and policymakers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem. The insights from this research will guide policy recommendations and pilot interventions to foster a safer and more enabling environment for women motorcyclists across the country.