GPS Mandatory in All Public Transport From 1 August

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has made the installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices mandatory for all public transport vehicles from 1 August.

Under the new directive, owners of public transport vehicles will have to submit proof of GPS installation when applying for the registration of new vehicles or renewing fitness certificates.

They will also be required to demonstrate through a mobile application that the installed GPS device is functioning properly.

The BRTA announced the decision in a public notice issued on Tuesday.

According to the notice, the Road Transport and Highways Division issued a gazette notification on 11 June to improve road safety and encourage the use of modern information technology in the public transport sector. In line with that notification, all public transport vehicles must have an operational GPS device installed from 1 August.

The BRTA said the technical specifications for approved GPS devices are available at its regional offices and on its official website.

During vehicle registration or fitness certificate renewal, owners must submit proof of GPS installation to the relevant BRTA office and verify through a mobile application that the device is active.

The authority said that, under Section 25 of the Road Transport Act, 2018, and Rule 55 of the Road Transport Rules, 2022, registration and fitness certificates will be issued or renewed only after officials confirm that the required GPS device has been installed.

The BRTA urged transport owners and their representatives to complete the necessary preparations and cooperate in implementing the new requirement.