Digitization in BRTA activities: 12 thousand people got driving license in 1 year in Bogra

Bogra Corespondent: There was a time when getting a driving license or a passport was a real nightmare of harassment and suffering. And there is also the violence of brokers outside the office. But times are changing, digitization has touched the driving license process as well which has positive benefits in Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Bogra.

By applying online only if you appear on the scheduled day and pass the test, you will get the driving license sitting at home so that on the one hand the harassment of common people is reduced and on the other hand the time of working people is not wasted. And since the entire process from application to depositing money is online, the cases of being cheated by brokers or dishonest people are also stopped in this digital system. After the guidance of Bogra District Commissioner Saiful Islam and the joining of Majbaul Karim as Additional District Magistrate, the positive change in Bogra BRTA has accelerated. According to the information of BRTA Bogra circle office, about 11 thousand 760 examinees got driving license in the last 1 year online process, among them about 5500 were professional drivers. When asked about this process online, BRTA Bogra Circle Motor Vehicle Inspector Ashraful Islam said that the current government has digitized the entire driving license process to ensure transparent and hassle-free service, which is benefiting the common people at the grassroots level.

To obtain a driving license, one has to apply online for the learner card first, where a government fee of Tk 759 for light and motorcycle application and Tk 518 for motorcycle only has to be submitted. Later, an applicant has to appear on the day of the exam in the learner card and take the written test in the morning, then the oral test and then the practical test. The examination is conducted by a Board in the presence of the Chairman of the Board Additional District Magistrate or any of his nominees Executive Magistrate, Civil Surgeon or his nominee Health Department Representative, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) or his nominee Inspector and BRTA Bogra Motor Vehicles as Member Secretary of the Board The inspector whose responsibility is only to coordinate the board, all the rest of the process goes online. After passing the exam, the applicant is notified and then the candidate can submit the original application online at home. Professional applicants have to deposit 2 thousand 772 taka and amateur drivers 4 thousand 497 taka using various means of mobile banking. Although some online charges are added to it. After that, an applicant can get a driving license at home by mail. No fee is required to obtain a license other than the fee prescribed by the government for the learner and the original application.

In this context, BRTA Bogra Circle Assistant Director (Eng) ATM Moinul Hasan said, Bogra is a very important district in North Bengal. In the online process, thousands of people apply for driving license through 7 to 8 boards a month in this district who have no lack of sincerity to provide hassle-free service. After application those who have to come to BRT only for one day of examination. There have also been positive changes in the renewal of licenses for professional drivers. In order not to waste time, the aspirants are sent their license by post within a day after refresher training, fingerprinting and practical test. He urged all license applicants to always be aware of brokers or fraudsters. He said, this official asked them to make their application transparently by stopping fraudsters when the entire process is online. He said that if anyone who is related to any BRTA official extorts money from the applicants or commits financial fraud by giving side talk in the examination, they should be brought under the law.

The official also said to report the fraudsters roaming around BRTA to the police. He sought everyone's cooperation to maintain this hassle-free and transparent process in Bogra BRT in the future. In this regard, Bogra Additional District Magistrate Majbaul Karim said, they are determined to ensure people-friendly services under the leadership of Bogra District Commissioner Saiful Islam. There was a time when there were reports of various hardships when going to get service at BRTA, but now there has been a radical change. Harassment and suffering are reduced as the entire process is online based. Transparency is also ensured. In Bogra, they are trying to implement the driving license process in a hassle-free manner, in which there is no opportunity to raise fingers because this board has representatives of several departments.

He said that there is no opportunity for anyone to be cheated in getting a license and if anyone tries or breaks someone's name in Bogra, it will be suppressed with strong hands. Although a long-standing negative mentality cannot be changed in a day, they want to continue this positive trend in Bogra BRT. He also urged the common people to be aware that the door of his office is always open for common people in case of harassment or suffering.