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BRTA suspends 41 bus registrations over illegal sleeper conversions

Published : Thursday, 10 September, 2026 at 11:23 AM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) suspended the registrations of 41 buses for illegal conversion from single-decker vehicles into double-decker sleeper buses.

The action follows findings from a three-member BRTA technical committee formed under High Court directives.

Supreme Court lawyer Muhammad Hujjatul Islam Khan filed a writ petition in 2025 questioning the operation of unauthorized sleeper AC buses.

The High Court issued a rule on February 4, 2025, and later directed BRTA to form an independent technical committee to investigate the issue.

BRTA Director (Engineering) Mohammad Shahidullah led the committee, with Deputy Director A. S. M. Kamrul Hasan as member and Assistant Director Md. Moinul Islam as member-secretary.

The committee reviewed BRTA database records, evaluated current safety risks, and examined the need for national guidelines based on international practices.

The inquiry revealed that BRTA never approved or registered any double-decker sleeper bus in the country.

Database records show 829 double-decker non-sleeper buses hold official registration.

However, several owners registered single-decker buses and later illegally altered the body design into double-decker sleeper buses.

Following allegations, BRTA suspended 41 such converted vehicles and refused to renew their fitness certificates.

BRTA mobile courts also took legal action against three sleeper buses on highways, while operations remain ongoing.

The authority repeatedly issued letters to the Bangladesh Police to crack down on unauthorized sleeper buses operating without valid route permits.

Official sources confirmed BRTA currently registers only single-decker buses under the Road Transport Act 2018 and Road Transport Rules 2022.

The technical committee noted that formulating national guidelines for approving and regulating sleeper buses remains underway.

-SA

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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