Sleeper buses BRTA approval mandatory

The High Court on Wednesday declined to allow sleeper buses to operate on highways without approval from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), saying only authorised vehicles can run on roads.

The bench headed by Justice KM Hafizul Alam passed the order while hearing a petition filed by a bus owners’ association seeking permission to operate sleeper buses on highways.

Advocate Md Rafiul Islam, appearing for BRTA, told the court that Section 40 of the Road Transport Act, 2018 sets technical specifications for vehicles.

He said violation of those specifications is an offence under Section 84, which carries a maximum punishment of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Tk3 lakh.

The lawyer also referred to Section 28, which prohibits vehicles from operating on roads without route permits.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Rafiul Islam said the court had made it clear that only buses authorised by BRTA could operate on roads.

He said neither BRTA nor the High Court had granted permission for sleeper buses to operate.

As a result, sleeper buses cannot run on highways unless they obtain the required BRTA approval and route permits and comply with the technical specifications prescribed by law, he added.

Advocate Muhammad Hujjatul Islam Khan filed a writ petition on January 23 challenging the legality of operating sleeper buses on highways.

The petition sought a stay on the operation of unauthorised sleeper buses in the interest of road safety.