The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA)  today formed a committee to implement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's directive on bringing public transport workers under a drug testing system.

The nine-member committee led by BRTA's director (administration) was asked to submit their report within seven working days, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder told The Daily Star tonight.

The committee would have representatives from Police Headquarters, Highway Police, transport owners, workers, and health and narcotics departments, he said.

The decision came at a preparatory meeting called by BRTA today at its head office with the leaders of transport owners and workers, along with police officials.

The committee would determine the methodology of conducting the drug tests, places where those would be conducted, other relevant issues and next course of action to be set following their report, the BRTA chairman said.

Meanwhile, transport leaders demanded the authority to conduct the tests on transport workers free of cost.

Delivering her speech on October 22 to mark the National Road Safety Day, Hasina directed the authority concerned to bring drivers under a drug testing system.

"We need to know whether those who are driving [vehicles] use drugs. They need to undergo testing. This test is absolutely essential for each driver. You must do it," she said.

On October 27, the Road Transport and Highway Division held a meeting with all the heads of the agencies concerned to discuss how to implement the directives and the BRTA was asked to call a meeting over this issue, sources said.

Experts and transport leaders consider drug addiction to be one of the major reasons behind road accidents. They said in order to ensure road safety, drug tests are important so that those with addictions or under the influence cannot operate a vehicle.

Transport leaders Khondaker Enayet Ullah, Osman Ali and Mahbubur Rahman, among others, were present at the meeting.