National Road Safety Day 2026, State Minister Habibur Rashid Habib emphasises regular vision screening for drivers, highlighting its importance in protecting passengers and ensuring safer roads
VisionSpring Bangladesh brought together government representatives, transport-sector leaders, development partners and road safety stakeholders at a special National Road Safety Day 2026 event to highlight the critical role of clear vision in safer driving and explore stronger collaboration to make vision screening and corrective eyeglasses more accessible to professional drivers.
Held at the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel under VisionSpring’s “See to Be Safe” initiative, the stakeholder engagement and advocacy event focused on how vision screening and access to corrective eyeglasses can help reduce preventable vision-related risks and support broader national road safety efforts. The programme also called for stakeholders to explore regular vision screening for professional drivers as an integral part of road safety initiatives.
Addressing the programme as Chief Guest, Habibur Rashid Habib, MP, State Minister for the Road Transport and Highways Division and Ministry of Railways, emphasized the importance of driver health and vision alongside infrastructure, enforcement and traffic management in making roads safer. His current portfolio is also reflected in recent government-related reporting.
“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 licenses. At the same time, compliance with traffic laws, improved driving skills, and adequate rest for drivers must be prioritized. Building safer roads requires collective efforts from the government, transport owners’ and workers’ organizations, and partner institutions,” said Habibur Rashid Habib, MP, State Minister for the Road Transport and Highways Division and Ministry of Railways.
The programme featured a presentation on VisionSpring’s mission, vision and project progress, followed by a session on why clear vision matters for road safety and a panel discussion titled “Promoting Road Safety Through Better Vision.”
The panel brought together Misha Mahjabeen, Managing Director, VisionSpring Bangladesh; Md. Humayun Kabir Khan, General Secretary, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation; Md. Saiful Alam, Secretary General, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association; Mir Ahmed Tarikul Omar, Chairman, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation; Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Chairman, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority; and Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, Executive Director, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority. The discussion was facilitated by Shahroz Jalil, Project Director, VisionSpring.
“In Bangladesh, more than 20 million people experience vision problems due to a lack of access to necessary eyeglasses, including a significant number of drivers. Poor vision is one of the risk factors contributing to road accidents. Therefore, regular vision screening and access to appropriate eyeglasses for drivers must be prioritized to ensure road safety. VisionSpring has been working in Bangladesh since 2006 and has provided reading glasses to five million people to date. Our goal is not only to improve people’s vision but also to make the country’s roads safer by ensuring access to eye care services for drivers,” said Misha Mahjabeen, Managing Director, VisionSpring Bangladesh.
VisionSpring’s See to Be Safe programme provides vision screening for drivers and transport workers with the aim of reducing vision-related road risks. By September 2026, VisionSpring reported that it had screened more than 30,000 drivers and transport-sector workers in Bangladesh and provided eyeglasses to more than 24,000 people who needed vision correction. The programme in Bangladesh was launched with a two-year ambition to screen 50,000 bus and truck drivers and provide 30,000 pairs of eyeglasses.
Special guests at the event included Dr. Mohammed Ziaul Haque, Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division; Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP and Chief Coordinator, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners–Workers Coordination Council; Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, Executive Director, DTCA; Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Chairman, BRTA; Mir Ahmed Tarikul Omar, Chairman, BRTC; Md. Saiful Alam, Secretary General, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association; and Md. Humayun Kabir Khan, General Secretary, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.
The programme concluded with an open stakeholder discussion, recognition of contributing organizations and a renewed call for collective action to integrate eye health more closely into Bangladesh’s road safety efforts.
About VisionSpring
VisionSpring is a global social enterprise working to increase access to clear vision through affordable eyeglasses. Through its See to Be Safe programme, VisionSpring conducts vision screening for drivers and transport workers, helping address uncorrected vision as a preventable road-safety risk.
