Bangladesh Number Plate Rules (BRTA)

BRTA's number plate rules for bikes, cars and other vehicles, in plain words. This page covers the new motorcycle front plate, the digital plate, sizes, colours, letter codes and fines.

Last checked 24 October 2026. A plain-language summary of the law, not legal advice.

New rule: the motorcycle front number plate

BRTA's public notice of 16 October 2026 requires every motorcycle to carry a front number plate by 15 November 2026. The owner has the plate made, at their own cost.

New rule: the motorcycle front number plate
Motorcycle (not a scooter)	285 × 50 mm. The number may be on one line, e.g. ঢাকা মেট্রো-ল-১১-১২২৯
Scooter	200 × 100 mm. The notice does not say whether the number goes on one line or two.
Letters and digits	At least 20 mm tall
Colours	Black Bangla letters and digits on a white background
Material	Stainless steel or aluminium
Design	No decoration or designs
BRTA approval	Not needed, according to a Daily Observer report (20 October 2026). A local sign or metal shop can make it.
Deadline	15 November 2026

The front plate does not replace the rear plate. The rear must still carry BRTA's digital (RFID) plate.

Need a front plate? Make one to BRTA's sizes with our free plate maker, then take the true-size PDF to a sign shop.

What do the Rules say about front plates?

Rule 36(10) of the Road Transport Rules 2022 says motorcycles do not have to show their number on the front. BRTA's notice says the Act and the Rules already require it.

On 18 October 2026 a lawyer sent BRTA a legal notice asking for the legal basis of the requirement. As of 24 October 2026, we had not seen a reply or a new deadline.

We report what the notice and the Rules say. Follow BRTA's latest instructions.

Digital number plate: what it is and how to get it

What is a digital number plate?

It is BRTA's official number plate: a retro-reflective metal plate with an RFID tag. BRTA started issuing it on 31 October 2012.

Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) in Gazipur makes the plates. The RFID tag lets reader stations identify a vehicle from about 11 metres. On cars the tag sits on the windshield.

A motorcycle gets one plate, for the rear. Cars, buses and trucks get a pair, for the front and the rear.

How to apply for a digital number plate

Pay the fee. You can pay online at bsp.brta.gov.bd (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, DBBL Nexus, Rocket or bKash), at 547 branches of 18 banks, or at 24 booths.
BRTA makes the plate and the RFID tag. You then get an SMS asking you to bring the vehicle to your BRTA circle office.
Book a time and bring the vehicle. The plate and tag are fitted at the office, and BRTA takes your fingerprints.

Documents you need

For a privately owned motorcycle, bring:

The registration certificate or the acknowledgement receipt: the original and an A4 copy
The owner's NID or driving licence: the original and an A4 copy

The plate is fitted only if the registered owner is there in person. For a vehicle owned by an organisation, bring a nominee letter on the organisation's pad and the nominee's ID.

Digital number plate fees

BRTA's citizen charter lists Tk 2,260 for a motorcycle plate and Tk 4,628 for a pair of plates for a car, bus or truck. Both prices include the RFID tag.

Digital number plate fees
Vehicle	What you get	Fee
Motorcycle	One plate with RFID tag	Tk 2,260
Three-wheeler for hire	A pair of plates with RFID tag	Tk 2,260
Car, microbus and other light or medium vehicles (private or for hire)	A pair of plates with RFID tag	Tk 4,628
Bus, truck, minibus, tank lorry (private or for hire)	A pair of plates with RFID tag	Tk 4,628

The charter also says a 15% supplementary duty applies. It is not confirmed whether the fees above already include it.

How long does it take?

BRTA's charter says 30 working days. We could not confirm how long owners wait in practice.

How to check your digital number plate status

Send an SMS with NP to 26969. To book a fitting time, send NP A followed by the date to 26969.

BRTA's charter says the SMS service covers the Dhaka Metro and Chattogram Metro circles. BRTA's “DNP & DRC Checker” app also shows plate status.

Number plate size by vehicle type

A motorcycle's rear digital plate is 205 × 152 mm. A car plate is 300 × 152 mm, and a bus or truck plate is 350 × 152 mm. These sizes come from Rule 36 of the Road Transport Rules 2022.

Number plate size by vehicle type
Vehicle	Plate size	District name, min. height	Class letter, min. height	Digits, min. height
Motorcycle, CNG auto-rickshaw, disability-friendly vehicle	205 × 152 mm	16 mm	16 mm	27 mm
Motor car, microbus, human hauler	300 × 152 mm	23 mm	23 mm	38 mm
Bus, truck and other heavy vehicles	350 × 152 mm	25 mm	Not stated	45 mm

On all three plates the top margin is at least 10 mm and the gap between digits is at least 6 mm. Source: Rule 36(6)–(8).

The new motorcycle front plate has its own sizes from BRTA's notice: 285 × 50 mm, or 200 × 100 mm for a scooter.

How the number is laid out on the plate

The number has four parts on two lines. Only Bangla letters and digits are allowed, with no decoration (Rule 36(2) and 36(3)).

Line 1: the district or Metro name, a hyphen, then one class letter. Example: ঢাকা মেট্রো-ল
Line 2: a two-digit series, a hyphen, then a four-digit number. Example: ১১-১২২৯

The first line may be engraved or printed. The second line, the numbers, must be engraved on the plate (Rule 36(12)).

Series 01 to 10 are kept for vehicles moving over from the old system. New series start at 11.

A transport vehicle's rear plate must be no higher than 183 cm from the ground (Rule 36(11)).

Temporary registration plate

A vehicle on temporary registration shows red letters on a white plate. Line 1 has the district or Metro name. Line 2 has a four-digit serial, a slash and the year, such as ০০০১/২০২২ (Rule 40).

Temporary registration lasts one month and can't be renewed. A chassis waiting more than a month for its body can get more time, up to four months in total. The fee is half the normal registration fee.

Number plate colour codes

A private vehicle has black letters on a white plate. The colour depends on how the vehicle is used and on its fuel, not on its class letter (Rule 36(2)).

Number plate colour codes
Vehicle	Plate colour	Letter colour
Private vehicles and all others not listed below	White	Black
Vehicles for hire (taxi, CNG, public bus, goods for hire)	Green	Black
Electric vehicles	Green	White
Temporary registration	White	Red
Dealer, assembler or manufacturer numbers	Blue	Black
Special registration: UN, international organisations, aid agencies and their foreign staff (Rule 39)	Yellow	Black

Army and diplomatic vehicles are registered outside BRTA, and the Rules set no colour for them or for police vehicles. We could not confirm those colours, so they are not listed.

What the letters on a number plate mean

The Bangla letter after the district name shows the vehicle class. For motorcycles, ল means above 125 cc, হ means 51 to 125 cc and এ means up to 50 cc.

Some websites give other motorcycle bands, such as এ up to 100 cc. The bands above are the ones in the gazette. The motorcycle rows are highlighted in the table.

What the letters on a number plate mean
Letter	Vehicle class	Series
কKA	Motor car up to 1000 cc	11–99
খKHA	Motor car, 1001 to 1300 cc	11–99
গGA	Motor car, 1301 to 2000 cc (saloon, sedan, hatchback, estate, sports)	11–99
ঘGHA	Jeep (hard or soft jeep, station wagon)	11–99
ঙWUA	Auto-tempo, private	11–99
চCHA	Private microbus; service microbus of an organisation	11–5051–99
ছCAA	Microbus or human hauler for hire; ambulance	11–7071–99
জJA	Minibus for hire	11–99
ঝJHA	Private service minibus (omnibus, tour coach, luxury coach, school bus)	11–99
টTA	Heavy public goods vehicle	11–99
ঠTHA	Dual-purpose vehicle (pickup, prison van, security van, troop carrier, panel van)	11–99
ডDA	Medium public goods vehicle	11–99
ঢDHA	Private tank lorry; tank lorry for hire; private articulated vehicle (prime mover, industrial tractor); articulated vehicle for hire	11–4041–6061–8081–99
থTAW	Motorcab rickshaw for hire (CNG auto-rickshaw)	11–99
দDAW	Auto-rickshaw, private	11–99
নNA	Light public goods vehicle	11–99
পPA	Taxi cab	11–99
ফFA	Auto-tempo, public	11–99
বBA	Omnibus for hire (32 or more seats, driver included)	11–99
ভBHA	Motor car above 2000 cc	11–99
মMA	Light private goods vehicle; delivery van up to 2.5 tonnes (mini truck, three-wheel van)	11–5051–99
যZA	Prime Minister's Office vehicles	11–99
রRA	President's Office vehicles	11–99
লLA	Motorcycle or scooter above 125 cc	11–99
শSHA	Special-purpose vehicle (crane, tow truck, concrete mixer, loader, cleaning vehicle)	11–99
সSA	Private service omnibus (32 or more seats, driver included)	11–99
হHA	Motorcycle, 51 to 125 cc	11–99
অAU	Medium private goods vehicle	11–99
ইE	Farm vehicle (power tiller, tractor); private trailer; trailer for hire	11–6061–8081–99
উU	Heavy private goods vehicle (cargo truck or van, tipper, reefer van)	11–99
এA	Motorcycle up to 50 cc	11–99

Source: Schedule 7, Road Transport Rules 2022. When a letter has more than one series range, the uses and the ranges are listed in the same order.

District and Metro names on the plate

Line 1 of the plate shows where the vehicle is registered. Schedule 6 of the Rules lists 72 names: the 64 districts plus 8 Metro names.

The eight Metro names, exactly as they appear on plates:

ঢাকা মেট্রোDhaka Metro
গাজীপুর মেট্রোGazipur Metro
চট্ট মেট্রোChattogram Metro
রংপুর মেট্রোRangpur Metro
খুলনা মেট্রোKhulna Metro
বরিশাল মেট্রোBarishal Metro
রাজ মেট্রোRajshahi Metro
সিলেট মেট্রোSylhet Metro

A Metro name is used only inside the metropolitan area. The rest of the district uses the plain name, such as ঢাকা or চট্টগ্রাম.
There is no ময়মনসিংহ মেট্রো, নারায়ণগঞ্জ মেট্রো or কুমিল্লা মেট্রো in the gazette.
Plate text can differ from the district's usual name. Chapai Nawabganj plates read নওয়াবগঞ্জ, and the Chattogram and Rajshahi Metro names are shortened to চট্ট মেট্রো and রাজ মেট্রো.

Number plate fines and penalties

Driving without a number plate fitted and shown can mean up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to Tk 50,000, or both. This is in sections 16(3) and 72 of the Road Transport Act 2018.

Number plate fines and penalties
Offence	Sections	Penalty
Driving, or letting someone drive, without a number plate fitted and shown	16(3), 72	Up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to Tk 50,000, or both
Using or showing a fake, duplicate or altered registration	17, 73	6 months to 2 years in jail, a fine of Tk 1 to 5 lakh, or both
Changing a vehicle's size or technical features without approval	40, 84	1 to 3 years in jail, a fine up to Tk 3 lakh, or both

Police can arrest without a warrant for these three offences (section 110).
A repeat offence can double the maximum penalty (section 100).
BRTA's front-plate notice does not name a section or a fine for a missing front plate.
These amounts are from the Act as passed in 2018. We could not confirm whether later amendments changed them.

Recent enforcement

June 2026: a Dhaka court gave a biker one month in jail and a Tk 2,000 fine under sections 16(3) and 72. He had taped over part of his plate to avoid AI traffic cameras.
May 2026: Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said plates must use the government-set colour, design and size, and that painted-on numbers are illegal. It announced a special drive with fines.
DMP has also said a hidden, broken, altered or partly covered plate means action against both the driver and the owner, plus demerit points.

This is a summary of the law, not legal advice.

Common number plate mistakes and myths

Most plate problems come from decoration, the wrong colour, English letters or covered digits. Here is what the rules say about each one.

“The front plate replaces the rear digital plate.”
False. The rear RFID plate is still required.
“BRTA issues the front plate.”
False. Owners have it made at a sign or metal shop.
“A logo, slogan or design on the plate is fine.”
Not allowed. Rule 36(2) bans decoration and designs, and so does BRTA's front-plate notice.
“English letters are fine.”
Not allowed. The registration number must be in Bangla letters and digits (Rule 36(2)).
“Any plate colour will do.”
No. The colour is set by the vehicle's category (Rule 36(2)). DMP says plates must use the government-set colour, design and size.
“I can put a VIP number on my own plate.”
No. Chosen numbers come only from BRTA, for cars and jeeps, at a multiple of the normal fee (Rule 50). A plate showing a number that isn't yours counts as a fake registration (sections 17 and 73).
“Painting the number on is enough.”
No. DMP says painted-on numbers are illegal.
“A bit of tape over the digits does no harm.”
No. A Dhaka court jailed a biker for it in June 2026.
“An acrylic or plastic front plate is fine.”
Shops sell them, but BRTA's notice allows only stainless steel or aluminium.
“There is an official plate font.”
We found no rule that names a font. It is not confirmed whether a fancy font counts as decoration, so plain, clear letters are the safer choice.

Frequently asked questions

What is a digital number plate?

It is BRTA's official retro-reflective metal plate with an RFID tag, which lets reader stations identify the vehicle. BRTA has issued it since 31 October 2012.

Is the digital number plate mandatory?

Yes. Rule 36(4) says the plate must be the authority-approved retro-reflective metal plate. The Road Transport Act 2018 bans driving without a number plate fitted and shown (section 16(3)).

Can I apply for a digital number plate online?

You can pay the fee online at bsp.brta.gov.bd. The plate is fitted at your BRTA circle office after BRTA sends you an SMS.

What documents do I need to get the digital number plate?

For a private motorcycle, bring the registration certificate or acknowledgement receipt and the owner's NID or driving licence, each as the original and an A4 copy. The owner must be there in person.

How much does a bike number plate cost?

BRTA's rear digital plate for a motorcycle costs Tk 2,260, including the RFID tag. For the front plate, news reports from Dhaka in October 2026 put shop prices at about Tk 250 to 500, depending on size and material.

How long does it take to get a digital number plate?

BRTA's charter says 30 working days. We could not confirm real waiting times.

How do I check my digital number plate status?

Send NP by SMS to 26969, or use BRTA's “DNP & DRC Checker” app. BRTA says the SMS service covers the Dhaka Metro and Chattogram Metro circles.

What is the size of a bike number plate?

The rear digital plate is 205 × 152 mm. BRTA's new front plate is 285 × 50 mm, or 200 × 100 mm for a scooter.

Sources

We read these on 24 October 2026. Rule numbers refer to the Road Transport Rules 2022; section numbers refer to the Road Transport Act 2018.