Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has submitted a report to High Court stating that no registration has been issued for any sleeper bus in the country.
The authority also informed the court that mobile courts are being conducted and enforcement measures are being taken against sleeper buses operating without registration.
This report was submitted on Wednesday, before a High Court bench comprising Justice KM Hafizul Alam and Justice Murad-e-Mowla Shahel.
Advocate Rafiul Islam represented BRTA in court, while Advocate ABM Shahjahan Akanda Masum appeared for the Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners Association, and Advocate Muhammad Hujjatul Islam Khan represented the writ petitioner.
Supreme Court Advocate Muhammad Hujjatul Islam Khan filed a writ petition in 2025 challenging the legality of unauthorised sleeper AC bus operations.
Following an initial hearing, High Court issued a rule on 4 February 2025.
According to BRTA lawyer Rafiul Islam, upon hearing another application from the petitioner, court directed the formation of a three-member independent technical committee to submit a report regarding sleeper buses.
BRTA constituted the three-member committee after receiving court order.
Following the technical committee’s report, BRTA submitted a compliance report to court confirming that no sleeper buses had been granted registration.
Rafiul Islam stated that as part of efforts to halt unregistered sleeper bus operations, BRTA has been conducting mobile courts at various times, resulting in several buses being dumped and fines imposed in certain cases.
Meanwhile, the President and General Secretary of the Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners Association filed an application with the High Court seeking directions not to obstruct sleeper AC buses operating with registration.
During the hearing on the application, BRTA lawyer Rafiul Islam highlighted the provisions of the Road Transport Act to the court.
He stated that no vehicle can operate on the road without a route permit alongside registration, and legal provisions lay down penalties for operating without a route permit.
The owners’ association further alleged that alongside sleeper buses, some authorised buses were also being obstructed from operating on the road.
According to the BRTA lawyer, the court stated that buses holding valid permits will be able to operate normally.
Rafiul Islam noted that because BRTA has not issued registration to any sleeper buses, the court issued no orders regarding sleeper bus operations.
