Dhaka Turns to AI Traffic Policing to Tackle Chronic Congestion

By Web Desk :

Authorities in Dhaka have launched the city’s first artificial intelligence-powered traffic enforcement system in an attempt to curb widespread traffic violations and ease congestion in one of the world’s most gridlocked capitals.

The new system, introduced by Dhaka police in April, links existing traffic surveillance cameras with AI software capable of automatically identifying road offences including signal violations, lane breaches and illegal parking.

Home to more than 22 million people, Dhaka has long struggled with severe traffic congestion, chaotic road conditions and weak enforcement of traffic laws. Buses, motorcycles, cars and the city’s vast fleet of pedal rickshaws compete for limited road space daily, often ignoring signals, pedestrian crossings and traffic officers.

Traffic police officials say the introduction of artificial intelligence is already beginning to change driver behaviour and reduce confrontations between motorists and law enforcement personnel.

Traffic sergeant SM Nazim Uddin said officers frequently faced arguments and hostility during manual enforcement operations before the AI system was introduced.

“Those who violate the rules turn against us,” he told AFP, adding that motorists have become noticeably more cautious since automated monitoring began.

Under the new mechanism, violations are recorded digitally and notices are sent automatically to vehicle owners, reducing the need for direct roadside confrontations.

One of the first motorists penalised under the system, 28-year-old Hannan Rahman Jibon, said he received a fine notification after running a red light.

“The owner of my car, who was sitting at home, received a text message saying the vehicle had violated traffic rules,” he said after being fined 2,000 taka, equivalent to around $16.

He admitted the experience had made him more careful while driving through the capital.

According to Dhaka police spokesperson NM Nasiruddin, the system currently relies on existing camera infrastructure installed across key intersections and major roads.

Officials say at least 300 vehicles have already been prosecuted since the technology was deployed, while hundreds of additional motorists received warnings instead of immediate fines.

Inside the traffic monitoring control room, analysts review AI-generated alerts from live video feeds before penalties are issued. Authorities say the hybrid model allows human operators to verify violations before enforcement action is taken.

Analyst Sharmin Afroze said the system recorded nearly 800 violations in a single day, highlighting the scale of traffic rule breaches in the city.

Despite the early progress, officials acknowledge that the technology still faces practical limitations. Poor-quality or obscured number plates sometimes make vehicle identification difficult, while the current system does not yet fully address Dhaka’s large number of pedal rickshaws and informal transport vehicles.

Police say further upgrades are planned, including detection of vehicles driving on footpaths and expanded camera coverage across more parts of the city.

Dhaka’s traffic problems have long attracted international attention. A study by the US National Bureau of Economic Research previously ranked the Bangladeshi capital as the world’s slowest city for traffic movement.

Separate research conducted by the World Bank and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology found average traffic speeds in Dhaka had fallen to just 4.8 kilometres per hour, making walking faster than driving in many areas.

Transport experts, however, caution that technology alone will not solve the city’s traffic crisis.

Professor Hasib Mohammed Ahsan said the long-term success of the AI system would depend on consistent implementation and accountability by authorities.

“We have spent huge amounts of money on traffic signals and upgrades before, but those efforts were never sustained,” he said, warning that poor planning and weak enforcement have historically undermined previous reform attempts in the capital.

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