Dhaka: An artificial intelligence-based 'auto fine system' was launched on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Tuesday to improve road safety, ensure traffic discipline, and take quick action against traffic law violations. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the system at the Highway Police's Command, Control and Monitoring Centre at Meghnaghat in Sonargaon, Narayanganj.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the system is expected to bring significant changes to traffic management and will be gradually introduced on all national highways after its performance is evaluated on the Dhaka-Chattogram route. Salahuddin Ahmed emphasized that illegal extortion on highways, whether by transport owners, workers' federations, or police personnel, will not be tolerated. He stated that such activities would be recorded by CCTV and AI cameras.
The minister also mentioned that unauthorized and unlicensed three-wheelers and non-motorized vehicles would not be allowed to operate on highways, and police would take immediate legal action against them. Under the project, AI cameras have been installed on 490 pillars along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. These cameras can automatically detect and record speeding, dangerous overtaking, violations of traffic signals, driving on the wrong side, and illegal parking.
Once a violation is detected, the vehicle's information will be sent to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority's (BRTA) database, and an SMS containing details of the case will be sent to the registered owner's mobile phone. Vehicle owners will have the convenience of paying fines from home through mobile financial services (MFS), while repeated violations may lead to the cancellation of vehicle registration under BRTA rules.
Highway Police chief and Additional IGP Faruk Ahmed chaired the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by IGP Md Ali Hossain Fakir, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation president and MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, and Narayanganj-3 MP Azharul Islam Mannan.