Motorcycle owners across Bangladesh have been instructed to install manual number plates on the front of their vehicles by November 15, 2026, alongside the digital number plates already fitted at the rear.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) issued the directive in an urgent public notice on Friday, October 16. The move aims to strengthen traffic management and improve vehicle monitoring across the country.
According to the notice, motorcycle owners must arrange to manufacture and install the front number plates themselves, following the specifications set by the authorities. Failure to comply with the directive may result in legal action.
The new requirement comes in addition to the existing provision for RFID-enabled, retro-reflective digital number plates at the rear of motorcycles under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Road Transport Rules 2022.
The front plates must be made of stainless steel or aluminium, with the registration number displayed in black Bengali letters and numerals against a white background. Decorative designs and additional embellishments will not be permitted.
BRTA has also specified different dimensions for scooters and other motorcycles.
For scooters, the front number plate must measure 200 millimetres in length and 100 millimetres in width. For other motorcycles, the plate must be 285 millimetres long and 50 millimetres wide. In both cases, the letters and numerals must be at least 20 millimetres high.
Motorcycle owners are being urged to complete the installation before the November 15 deadline and ensure their plates meet all the prescribed requirements.
The directive is part of efforts to improve road safety, strengthen traffic surveillance and make vehicle identification easier for the relevant authorities.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 16 Oct 2026, 14:00.
