449 Cases Filed in 24 Hours Through AI Cameras
The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, known as the lifeline of the country’s economy, has finally entered a new era of “smart traffic management.” After 1,427 advanced AI cameras were installed along the 250-kilometre stretch from Signboard in Narayanganj to City Gate in Chattogram, the automated traffic management and “auto-fine system” officially began on Tuesday. Within the first 24 hours, 449 cases were filed, with fines totaling Tk 1.551 million imposed. The development is unprecedented in the history of highway management in the country. Highway Police Cumilla Region Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shahinur Alam confirmed the matter yesterday. He said expanding the AI camera system would reduce violations of traffic laws while further strengthening road safety and discipline. Its impact has already begun to be felt.
Under the new artificial intelligence-based camera system, police no longer need to chase vehicles with batons or signals or stop vehicles on the highway to check documents. Whenever a vehicle violates traffic laws, the AI camera scans its number plate and retrieves the owner’s information directly from the BRTA database. Within moments, an automated text message containing details of the case is sent to the registered owner’s mobile phone. Drivers or vehicle owners can also pay the fine from home through mobile banking services such as bKash or Nagad.
An analysis of the first 24 hours of the AI camera-based auto-fine system shows that most of the cases were filed for violating the prescribed speed limit or overspeeding. The AI cameras also accurately detected other offences, including driving against traffic on one-way roads, illegally stopping or parking vehicles on the highway or in lanes, and dangerous overtaking. According to sources at the Highway Police Cumilla Region, a total of 1,427 high-tech AI cameras have been installed across 490 zones along the 250-kilometre Dhaka-Chattogram Highway from Signboard in Narayanganj to City Gate in Chattogram. The entire system is being monitored round the clock from the Highway Police’s central Command, Control and Monitoring Centre at Meghnaghat.
Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shahinur Alam said the AI cameras have brought a revolutionary change to the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. He said the filing of 449 cases in the first 24 hours demonstrates how accurately the technology is functioning. There is no scope for human bias or error in the system. He added that drivers have already begun showing a greater tendency to follow traffic laws. “Our goal is not to file cases or collect fines. Our goal is to restore discipline on the roads and protect people’s lives,” he said. He added that the scope and strictness of the system would be strengthened gradually. Overall, the technology is expected to bring significant changes in maintaining highway discipline, controlling speed, preventing illegal parking and curbing extortion.
Mr. Shafik, a driver for Cumilla Rent-A-Car, said he previously thought he could increase his speed when police were not around. “Now I see eyes on every pillar along the road. I never know when a message might arrive and I may have to pay a fine. Thinking about that, I have given up the idea of driving the way I used to,” he said. Monir Hossain, a bus driver on the Dhaka-Cumilla route, said the AI cameras can accurately measure vehicle speed, forcing drivers to remain within the prescribed limit. He believes this will significantly reduce road accidents. He said vehicles travelling in the wrong direction are now automatically detected and cases are filed through the cameras, which will greatly discourage the practice. He also believes that the installation of AI cameras will reduce the number of unskilled drivers operating on the highway and consequently help lower the number of accidents.
Experts have described the introduction of AI cameras as a historic milestone in Bangladesh’s road management. However, they stressed that the Highway Police must ensure that vehicle owners’ mobile numbers and other information in the BRTA database remain updated and take stronger measures to identify vehicles using fake number plates. They said if the technological surveillance system can be kept operational over the long term and free from outside influence, the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway could emerge as the country’s safest road by Asian Highway standards.
