Sleeper bus owners block Banani road demanding legal recognition

Dhaka's Airport-Banani road was briefly blocked on Sunday (August 23) as leaders and workers of the Bangladesh Sleeper Bus Owners' Association staged a protest demanding legal recognition for sleeper buses and a separate regulatory framework for the sector.

The protesters took position on the road in Banani around noon, disrupting traffic for a while. The road was cleared after police urged them to end the blockade, and vehicular movement returned to normal.

The association's leaders said hundreds of crores of taka have been invested in the sleeper bus sector, which provides employment to a large number of drivers, helpers, supervisors and mechanics.

They warned that suspending sleeper bus operations without an alternative arrangement could put both investors and workers under severe financial pressure.

Their demands include a dedicated policy for operating sleeper buses in line with international standards, an immediate resolution of complications related to fitness certificates and route permits, and an end to what they described as arbitrary fines, searches and vehicle seizures while legal proceedings remain pending.

The owners also said a writ petition concerning the legality of sleeper bus operations, Writ Petition No. 1290/2025, is pending before the High Court.

They urged authorities not to take coercive measures or impose restrictions on sleeper buses until the case is resolved.

They called for sleeper buses to be brought under a clear regulatory framework in coordination with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), particularly to ensure road safety.

The owners said they were willing to comply with laws and regulations but wanted the government to formulate practical rules through discussions with owners, workers, experts and relevant agencies.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gulshan Traffic Division) Ziaul Haque said transport workers had blocked the road to press their demand for legal recognition of sleeper buses. They later withdrew after police intervention.

Following the protest, a delegation led by association President Aftab Uddin Masud and General Secretary Touhidul Islam Babu went to the BRTA office and submitted a memorandum to its chairman.