The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has instructed motorcycle owners to install manual registration number plates at the front of their vehicles by 15 November, alongside the digital plates already fitted at the rear. Owners must arrange the new plates themselves and ensure they comply with the prescribed specifications. Failure to follow the directive could result in legal action, according to an urgent public notice issued by the authority on 16 October.
The measure is intended to strengthen traffic management and improve the identification and monitoring of motorcycles on Bangladesh’s roads. Under the existing system, motorcycles are required to display rear retro-reflective number plates equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. The new requirement extends registration number display to the front of the vehicle.
The BRTA referred to the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Road Transport Rules 2022 in its notice. Motorcycle owners will initially be responsible for arranging the manufacture and installation of the additional plates, which must meet the authority’s specified standards for materials, colours, dimensions and lettering.
Strict requirements for materials and design
According to the directive, front number plates must be made from either stainless steel or aluminium. The background must be white, while all registration characters and numbers must be displayed in black Bengali script.
Decorative patterns, embellishments and other ornamental features are not permitted. Owners must therefore ensure that the plates follow the prescribed design rather than adding personal touches that could make them non-compliant.
For motorcycles other than scooters, the registration mark may be displayed on a single horizontal line. The BRTA has also set separate dimensions for scooters and other motorcycles, meaning owners must identify the appropriate specifications before having their plates made.
Different dimensions for scooters and motorcycles
The front number plate for a scooter must measure 200 millimetres in length and 100 millimetres in width. The height of the characters and numbers must be at least 20 millimetres.
For motorcycles other than scooters, the plate must be 285 millimetres long and 50 millimetres wide. The minimum height of the characters and numbers remains 20 millimetres.
These measurements are part of the authority’s effort to standardise front registration plates. Owners should check the dimensions carefully before installation, as a plate that does not meet the specified measurements may fail to comply with the directive. The material, background colour, lettering and absence of decorative elements must also be taken into account.
Owners urged to meet the 15 November deadline
The BRTA has called on motorcycle owners to install the front plates within the stipulated period. As owners must initially arrange the plates themselves, they need to ensure that the manufacturing and installation process is completed before the deadline.
Clearly displayed registration numbers can help traffic authorities identify vehicles during routine monitoring and when examining road incidents. Standardised plates may also make it easier to distinguish registered motorcycles, provided the requirements are implemented consistently and owners comply with the rules.
Motorcycle owners should therefore check the relevant specifications before commissioning a plate, paying particular attention to the dimensions required for their vehicle type. They must also ensure that the registration details are displayed clearly in the prescribed format.
The deadline of 15 November applies to the installation of the new front plates under the BRTA’s notice. Owners who fail to comply with the requirements could face legal action, the authority has warned.
