On the streets of Dhaka, buses frequently stop in the middle of busy roads to pick up passengers, often causing long queues of vehicles behind them. Traffic police officers standing nearby typically wave the buses forward rather than penalising them.
But motorists driving private cars or motorcycles in the same locations often find themselves facing immediate fines for traffic violations.
Field observations of TIMES of Bangladesh across several major intersections in the capital, combined with commuter experiences and official statistics, suggest that traffic laws are being enforced unevenly — with public transport vehicles frequently avoiding penalties.
The pattern is visible at Shahbagh, one of the capital’s busiest intersections.
Despite the presence of designated bus stops nearby, multiple buses routinely halt in the middle of the road to load and unload passengers, quickly creating congestion.
Traffic police on duty are often seen using laser lights or batons to signal buses to move ahead. Once the buses leave, officers shift their attention to clearing the traffic jam rather than penalising the vehicles.
Yet within a short distance of the same intersection, police are regularly seen issuing fines to private cars and motorcycles for parking or stopping violations.
Traffic inspector Rafiqul Islam Liton of the Ramna division said officers usually instruct buses to move forward rather than file cases during busy hours.
“We usually ask buses to move forward if we see them stopping on the road. During peak hours there is little opportunity to issue cases,” he told Times of Bangladesh.
According to him, stopping a bus to file a case could worsen congestion.
Comparable scenes were observed in several major locations including Banglamotor, Farmgate and Mohakhali.
At Banglamotor, buses frequently stop before reaching the designated stop to compete for passengers. Traffic police often limit their response to telling the buses to move.
In Farmgate, buses often ignore the designated bus bays and stop directly on the road, sometimes blocking one or even two lanes.
The situation appears even more chaotic in Mohakhali, where buses stop in the middle of the road while long-distance coaches parked near the terminal further narrow the main roadway.
Despite these disruptions, enforcement action against buses appears rare.
Traffic officials argue that penalising buses is more complicated than taking action against private vehicles.
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, deputy commissioner of the Tejgaon Traffic Division, said legal and procedural issues can slow enforcement.
“In the case of public transport, filing a case often requires coordination with government policy frameworks such as route permits and documentation processes. That makes enforcement more time-consuming,” he said.
As a result, buses can often avoid immediate penalties while ride-sharing vehicles and private cars are more easily fined.
Drivers and transport workers say the problem is also rooted in the way the public transport industry operates.
Several bus workers told TIMES that drivers must hand over a fixed amount of money to owners at the end of the day. To meet that target, they compete aggressively for passengers.
“If we don’t pick up passengers like this, we can’t survive,” said driver Shahin.
“All the money is taken from us on the road. How will we earn otherwise”
Another driver, Mamun, said drivers lose money on trips if buses do not fill with passengers.
“Owners cut our wages if the trip runs at a loss,” he said.
Transport expert Professor M Shamsul Haque said the root cause lies in the passenger-based income system.
“When a driver’s earnings depend directly on passenger numbers, they prioritise picking up passengers over obeying designated stops,” he said.
According to him, this creates unhealthy competition among buses and fuels road disorder.
“Without changing the income structure of bus drivers, behavioural change is unlikely,” he added.
Regular commuters say the difference in enforcement is visible.
Afzal Hossain, a private company employee who travels daily from Hatirpool to Badda, said buses frequently block roads near the Sonargaon intersection while picking up passengers.
“One bus stopping is enough to create a long queue behind it,” he said.
Yet he himself was fined last month for illegal parking at the same intersection through the e-prosecution system based on video evidence.
“I received the fine notice at home before I even realised what violation had occurred,” he said.
Ride-sharing driver Hasan echoed the frustration.
“If we stop for two minutes on the roadside, we are fined immediately. But buses stop outside designated stops and nothing happens,” he said.
“If there is a fine, it should apply equally to everyone.”
Despite existing laws, enforcement data suggests limited action against buses.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police traffic statistics, 6,727 cases were filed in the capital over six days in February this year.
Only 369 cases — about 5.5% — were against buses.
Professor Haque said such disparities can undermine public trust.
“When enforcement is visibly uneven, perceptions of bias naturally emerge,” he said.
Transport workers also alleged informal payment systems between buses and traffic officials.
Workers from several transport companies said buses typically pay 100 to 200 taka per trip through intermediaries known as “linemen”.
Some drivers also claimed that monthly “token” payments ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 taka are collected.
A helper from a transport company said payments are often arranged indirectly through shops or intermediaries.
“If the sergeant is kept satisfied, there’s no tension,” he said.
However, traffic authorities denied the allegations.
When asked about claims of extortion from public transport workers, Ramna division Traffic Inspector Rafiqul Islam Liton rejected the accusations.
“There is no truth to allegations that members of the force collect extortion,” he told TIMES.
Meanwhile, Tejgaon Traffic Division deputy commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Islam acknowledged that some complaints involving traffic personnel had surfaced in the past.
“Some allegations against certain members of the traffic division are currently under investigation,” he said.
“But we cannot hold the entire traffic department responsible for the actions of a few individuals. Within our capacity, we are trying our best. We are committed to making life easier for the residents of the capital.”
