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The High Court has declined to grant a petition seeking permission for sleeper buses to operate on highways.
The court said only buses approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in accordance with the Road Transport Act, 2018 and the Road Transport Rules, 2022 can operate on roads.
It also said there is no legal bar to taking action against unauthorised or illegally operated buses.
A High Court bench comprising Justice K M Hafizul Alam and Justice Murad-E-Mawla Sohail passed the order on Wednesday.
Lawyer Rafiul Islam represented the BRTA during the hearing, while lawyer Muhammad Huzzatul Islam Khan appeared for the petitioner.
Huzzatul Islam Khan filed a writ petition with the High Court on January 23, 2025, seeking directives to stop the operation of unauthorised sleeper buses in the interest of passenger safety.
Following the writ petition, the Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners Association filed another petition seeking an order restraining authorities from dumping, seizing or taking other action against their buses through mobile courts or other enforcement measures.
The High Court, however, declined to provide the requested protection and reiterated that only buses operating with valid BRTA approval under the existing laws and regulations may run on the roads.