AI cameras are surveilling the roads in Dhaka, Bangladesh

June 3, 2026

Bangladesh has launched its first fully automated traffic enforcement system in Dhaka, using AI-powered cameras that detect violations and automatically file cases against vehicle owners without human intervention. Since going live on May 7, 2026, these cameras at major intersections have generated approximately 1,000 traffic cases by scanning license plates, matching them to government databases, and sending prosecution notices directly to owners' phones within hours. While some citizens praise the system for improving road safety and reducing bribery opportunities with traffic officers, others criticize its inability to monitor unregistered vehicles like rickshaws and its practice of penalizing owners regardless of who was driving.

Who is affected

Vehicle owners in Dhaka, Bangladesh (who receive cases regardless of who was driving)
Licensed drivers (who face point deductions from their 12-point license system)
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) traffic sergeants and inspectors (whose manual case filing roles are being reduced)
Private drivers and ordinary citizens operating registered vehicles
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) database users
Pedestrians who cross during vehicle green lights
Operators of unregistered vehicles (rickshaws, battery-powered vehicles) who remain outside the system
Scam victims targeted by fraudsters pretending to be authorities

What action is being taken

AI-powered traffic cameras are operating at five major intersections in Dhaka
The cameras are automatically scanning license plates, recording violations, cross-referencing the BRTA database, and sending prosecution notices to vehicle owners
Approximately 1,000 traffic cases have been generated since May 7, 2026
Camera installations are underway at additional locations
DMP is warning the public about scammers demanding payment for fake violations

Why it matters

This represents a fundamental shift in traffic enforcement that could reduce corruption by eliminating the traditional bribery system between drivers and traffic officers. The automated system creates accountability through documented evidence and removes human discretion from enforcement, potentially making roads safer by encouraging rule compliance. However, the system's significance also lies in its limitations—its inability to monitor unregistered vehicles that constitute a major portion of Dhaka's traffic creates questions about fairness and equal application of law. The initiative tests whether technology alone can solve complex urban traffic problems or whether comprehensive transport management reform is necessary for true effectiveness.

What's next

DMP aims to achieve fully automated case filing within six months across Dhaka
DMP plans to install cameras at a minimum of 500 points across the capital within the next six months
The automated system will expand to trigger cases and fines for any violation of traffic or motor transport laws anywhere in the city

Read full article from source: Global Voices