Dhaka flooded with battery-run rickshaws

Published : Wednesday, 30 April, 2025 at 3:55 PM Count : 304

Dhaka, a capital city with nearly 20 million residents, is already one of the slowest-moving cities in the world. In the crowded streets of Dhaka, rickshaw is an essential nuisance. A frail, three-wheeled rickshaw, pedaled by a driver who may be in his early twenties or even late sixties and hurling abuse at another rickshaw driver pedalling past him is a common sight on the streets of Dhaka. Since it is risky for both fast and slow-moving vehicles to use the same road, the city authority had since long been thinking of rickshaw-free Dhaka streets.

Battery-run rickshaws, which are essentially traditional rickshaws fitted with motors in local garages, have now emerged as a major disruption in Dhaka’s transport system. The increase of such vehicles has reached a point where the already fragile traffic situation in Dhaka city has become utterly chaotic. Hence came the idea of VIP roads. But rickshaws are often seen plying the VIP roads breaking the rules while the traffic police looking the other way.

No previous government has taken effective steps to develop a disciplined and citizen-friendly public transport system. Instead, control over transports has been handed over to politically influential individuals. As a result, citizens have become hostage to a few powerful transport leaders.

In recent years, battery-run rickshaws and vans have become a major source of livelihood in provincial towns and rural areas. By contrast, such rickshaws were almost non-existent in Dhaka. However, due to the absence of strict measures from the outset, their numbers have steadily increased.

No exact data of battery-run rickshaws number:

No authority has a clear record of the exact number of battery-run rickshaws currently operating in Dhaka. The appeal of more income with relatively less effort has drawn many into this profession. It cannot be denied that, following the recent political transition, the closure of factories and contraction of employment opportunities, particularly in the construction and other sectors, has driven many to Dhaka, where they have taken up battery-run rickshaw driving as a means of livelihood.

The Passengers’ Welfare Association has also reported that 14.5 per cent of all road accidents during the last Eid-ul-Fitr holiday were caused by battery-run rickshaws. Considering road discipline, the risk of accidents and the livelihoods of those involved, the government must adopt strict yet pragmatic measures regarding the operation of battery-run rickshaws.

In May last year, a decision was taken to ban battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka, which led to road blockades and protests by drivers. The then-government subsequently reversed its decision. Following the political upheaval on 5 August and the resulting laxity in law enforcement, battery-run rickshaws began to flood the streets of Dhaka. The situation has worsened to such a level that drivers are now even using flyovers.

Clash with Battery-run rickshaw drivers:

Battery-run rickshaw drivers on Monday (21 April) clashed with pedal rickshaw-pullers while protesting a ban on their vehicles in Banani. The drivers, armed with sticks and canes, also swooped on motorcyclists, and anyone documenting their demonstration, at different points in Banani area. The protest, which has been ongoing for several days, escalated yesterday, with chases and counter chases between batter-run rickshaw drivers and pedal rickshaw pullers. Since morning, battery-run rickshaw drivers had gathered on Banani Road-11 and began attacking pedal-rickshaw pullers.

Motorcycle riders’ organization Moto Club-98 has demanded a clear policy to regulate the uncontrolled movement of battery-powered rickshaws on major roads of the capital. Md Russel, a member of the organization, said: “We are not against anyone, but the uncontrolled movement of autorickshaws on main roads must be brought under control. These drivers need to be brought under training and licensing systems.”

Battery-run rickshaws won’t be allowed on Dhaka's main roads:

No battery-run rickshaws will be allowed to operate on the main roads of Dhaka city, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz on Tuesday. The approved standard model auto-rickshaws will be allowed to run in the alleys of Dhaka city, he said while speaking at a meeting on “Update on progress and future actions regarding the Standard Model and Prototype Development of Battery-Powered Rickshaws (E-Rickshaws)," organised by DNCC. Besides, a high level committee will be formed soon to prepare a standard model and regulatory framework for e-rickshaws, he said.

During the meeting, BUET's BIPRC (Bangladesh Integrated Public and Road Communication) e-bike project proposed a type-approval and registration process for a newly standardised, low-speed three-wheel e-rickshaw model. Manufacturers were urged to develop prototypes based on the proposal.

New design for rickshaw:

A team from the mechanical engineering department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has drafted a new design for rickshaw. They say that this design of rickshaws would be way safer than the regular rickshaws. However, it would cost about the same as the currently-running battery-powered rickshaws to build them. These are faster than regular rickshaws and the safety measures are feeble.

16 features in BUET-designed rickshaw:

The rickshaw designed by the team of BUET researchers is actually similar to the vehicle named easy bike, already running on streets. Members of the team stated that they have added 16 features to this rickshaw. To do that, they have identified the safety hazards in 12 types of battery-powered rickshaws existing in the country. Overall, it will be about the same size as the existing design of rickshaw. The new design of rickshaw would easily be able to carry a weight of 325 kg to 425 kg. So, the driver will be able to ply the rickshaw carrying two passengers without any difficulty.

The brakes on the new rickshaw would be way better than that on the existing one. They say that they have added hydraulic disc brake on three of its wheels along with a substitute parking brake. So, it would be easier to control the rickshaw.

Usually there are no rear-view mirrors on a rickshaw. So the rickshaw puller has to look over his shoulders to see if there is any vehicle coming from behind. Also, there are no indicators on the regular rickshaw and drivers of the vehicles coming from behind do not realise it when a rickshaw takes a left or right turn. So, it creates a risk for accidents. The new design will have mirrors and indicators.

There will also be a roof and glass windshield on the new design of rickshaw. So, neither the passengers nor the driver would have to get drenched when it rains. Plus, headlights have been installed permanently on the frame of the new rickshaw for proper visual periphery.

There are three, high beam, low beam and day time running lamp (DRL), light settings on the new headlights. Meaning, this light would help the rickshaw driver see clearly while moving on the street and also help the drivers of other vehicles to detect the rickshaw.

Cost of manufacture:

The BUET research team contacted different private companies to find out how much it would cost to manufacture the new design of rickshaw on a commercial basis. They found out that the cost would be somewhere around Tk 150,000 (Tk 1.5 lakh).

A modern city should have road infrastructure proportional to its population, which Dhaka lacks. Additionally, around 18 different types of vehicles, ranging from fast to slow-moving, use the same roads. The recent influx of battery-run rickshaws has further exacerbated the already anarchic state of Dhaka’s traffic.

FP/MI