No sleeper buses without BRTA permission: HC
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
High Court has rejected an application from the bus owners’ association seeking permission to operate sleeper buses on highways on Wednesday.
Justice KM Hafizul Alam issued the order. The court said only those buses granted permission by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will be allowed to operate on the roads.
Sleeper Bus Owners Association had submitted an application requesting permission to run sleeper buses on highways. However, the court ruled that no bus can operate on highways without BRTA authorization.
On 4 September, a double-decker sleeper bus of Iconic Paribahan lost control and fell into a pond in Kalapara, Patuakhali, injuring at least 15 people. All of the injured were former students of Jagannath University (JnU).
Earlier, on 21 August, another sleeper bus of Icon Paribahan caught fire in Cox’s Bazar. At that time, locals rescued 30 passengers by smashing the bus window glass using sticks.
