Sleeper buses cannot ply highways without BRTA authorisation: HC

The High Court today declined to allow sleeper buses to operate on highways, saying only buses authorised by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) can ply the roads.

The HC bench of Justice KM Hafizul Alam and Justice Murad-A-Mowla Sohel made the observation while dealing with a petition filed by the Sleeper Bus Owners Association seeking permission to operate sleeper buses on highways.

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Advocate Muhammad Rafiul Islam, appearing for the BRTA, told the court that sleeper buses must comply with the technical specifications prescribed under the Road Transport Act, 2018.

He said Section 40 of the law sets out technical specifications for vehicles and that violations of those requirements constitute an offence punishable under Section 84, with a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment and a fine of Tk 3 lakh.

The lawyer also referred to Section 28 of the Road Transport Act, which prohibits vehicles from operating on roads without route permits.

“Only those buses for which the BRTA has granted permission can operate on the roads. There is no permission for sleeper buses, and the High Court has not granted any such permission either,” Advocate Rafiul Islam told The Daily Star.

“In view of the discussions made above, the respondents are hereby directed not to detain, seize, or dump the buses belonging to the members of Respondents 5 and 6 (president and secretary of Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners’ Association), which are in full compliance with the law and hold valid permissions from Respondent No 2 (BRTA), thereby ensuring their unhindered and smooth movement on the road,” the court said.

The court's order means sleeper buses cannot operate on highways unless they obtain the necessary authorisation from the BRTA and comply with the applicable legal and technical requirements, he said.

The petition was filed in connection with a pending writ petition filed in 2025 by Supreme Court lawyer Muhammad Huzzatul Islam Khan challenging the BRTA’s inaction to stop plying of vehicles without valid registration.

Advocate Mahfuzur Rahman and Advocate ABM Shahjahan Akanda Masum appeared for Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners’ Association while Advocate Rafiul Islam represented the BRTA during hearing on the petitions.