BRTA to get 96 new staffers against demand for 2,282
- Ministry recently created 90 posts for BRTA
- Of the posts, 16 for vehicle inspectors, 8 for assistant directors
- BRTA to also get 6 exec magistrates
- 123 vehicle inspectors struggling to carry out work
Once new posts are filled, BRTA to have dedicated workforce in every district, a director in every divisional headquarters, an additional circle in Dhaka
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is going to get 96 new staffers, but this is unlikely to solve its perennial workforce crisis, especially in regards to field-level work.
Against the demand for 2,282 posts, the road transport and bridges ministry recently created only 90 posts for the regulatory body. They will also get six executive magistrates.
Of the posts, only 16 are for vehicle inspectors and eight for assistant directors, two crucial posts for field-level offices.
Issuing fitness clearance for vehicles is one of the major duties of a vehicle inspector. Currently, only 123 inspectors are struggling to ensure fitness for tens of thousands of vehicles.
Unfit vehicles are one of the main reasons behind road crashes, which saw a sharp rise in the last few years and became a serious concern. At least 641 people were killed in 528 road accidents last month, Road Safety Foundation said yesterday.
However, once the new posts are filled up, BRTA will have a dedicated workforce in every district, a director in every divisional headquarters, and an additional circle in Dhaka.
Currently, BRTA performs its functions through 57 district and five metro offices -- three in Dhaka and two in Chattogram.
Now, there will be a dedicated workforce in Narail, Lalmonirhat, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Panchagarh, Meherpur and Shariatpur. Currently, officials from other circles provide services in these places.
POOR WORKFORCE HINDERING SERVICES
Established in 1987, BRTA deals with a myriad of tasks -- registering vehicles, issuing and renewing driving licences and several more.
But the transport regulator has been facing a severe shortage of staffers and requisite technology to issue driving licences and vehicle-fitness clearances -- two vital factors for road safety.
BRTA has 823 employees against the sanctioned posts of 702, according to its 2020-21 annual report. It has been asking the ministry for more people since 2016.
In its annual performance agreements, signed with the Road Transport and Highway Division, BRTA said lack of workforce has been its main problem for the last few years.
In January 2013, BRTA made its biggest recruitment in recent times -- 149 people, including 50 vehicle inspectors.
The country then had around 18.5 lakh registered vehicles. Nine years later, the number has shot up to around 52.46 lakh. But BRTA recruited an insignificant number of staffers during his time.
In the last fiscal, vehicle inspectors checked the fitness of 6.75 lakh vehicles.
The inspectors are always under pressure, and the quality of inspections gets compromised often due to this. Moreover, the shortage of inspectors causes service seekers to wait a long time for fitness certificates.
NEW STAFFERS
In November 2018, BRTA sought 3,820 staffers, including 425 vehicle inspectors, but the road ministry did not agree with the proposal.
Following several meetings, BRTA revised the number and in October 2019 sought 2,282 staffers.
But, the public administration ministry in December 2020 approved only 315 posts, and the finance ministry approved only 96, including six for executive magistrates, they said.
The road ministry issued a circular, creating 90 posts on May 12, they added.
Besides, BRTA sought 33 other posts through two other proposals at different times, but only 21 were approved. Overall, BRTA sought a total of 2,315 posts but got 117, including 21 for vehicle inspectors.
To properly manage the increasing number of vehicles, BRTA needs around 1,000 inspectors, a BRTA official said.
But the authorities approved only 20 such posts, which will not improve the situation that much, he said, wishing anonymity.
Contacted, BRTA Chairperson Nur Mohammad Mazumder said they would fill up the new posts by promoting staffers or bringing them under deputation, and the process will start soon.
He admitted that the inadequate number of vehicle inspectors is putting pressure on them, which ultimately compromises service quality. "We will place a fresh proposal for the workforce."
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