EID TRAVEL: CCTV installation mandatory on long-route buses
Staff Reporter :
In a significant move to enhance passenger safety ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has made it mandatory for all long-distance buses in the country to install CCTV cameras. The decision comes in response to rising incidents of robbery, harassment, and road accidents during inter-district travel.
The directive was officially announced through a circular signed by the association’s General Secretary, Md Saiful Alam, on Saturday. It has already been sent to all district and company-level branch committees for immediate implementation.
The circular highlights the increasing number of crimes taking place on long-haul buses, including theft, assault, and particularly the harassment of female passengers. In addition, there has been a spike in road accidents, largely attributed to reckless driving and overspeeding.
To address these growing concerns, the association has instructed bus owners to install two essential safety mechanisms in every vehicle: CCTV surveillance systems and speed governors. While CCTV cameras will help monitor onboard activities and deter criminal behavior, speed governors are expected to prevent accidents by limiting the maximum speed of the vehicles.
This move follows an earlier appeal by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), which on April 8 had urged the association to take immediate steps to improve passenger safety. The government has also given strict directives to ensure full enforcement of the new safety measures.
According to the guidelines, all long-distance buses must be equipped with the required CCTV systems and speed control devices by June 1, 2025. Non-compliance will not be tolerated, and the authorities have warned that both organizational and legal actions will be taken against bus owners who fail to meet the deadline.
Furthermore, buses without these safety features will not be issued serial numbers, effectively banning them from operating on the roads during the busy Eid travel season.
Transport authorities believe that implementing CCTV cameras will not only protect passengers from crime but also create a sense of accountability among transport staff.
Meanwhile, speed governors are expected to reduce the number of deadly accidents, especially on highways during the high-traffic Eid period.
The new safety mandate has been welcomed by many passengers and road safety advocates, who have long demanded stricter measures to ensure safe and secure travel.
However, it remains to be seen how swiftly and effectively the directive is implemented by the transport companies, many of which operate on tight budgets and face logistical challenges.
With Eid travel drawing near and millions expected to journey across the country, the initiative marks a crucial step towards safer, more regulated long-distance transportation in Bangladesh.