Staff Reporter :
The High Court has directed authorities to cease the operation of battery-powered rickshaws in Dhaka’s metropolitan area within three days. The order was issued on Tuesday by a bench comprising Justice Fatima Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi after hearing a writ petition.
Barrister HM Sanjid Siddiqi, representing the petitioners, confirmed the decision to the media. The court also issued a rule questioning why the inaction of the respondents in stopping battery-powered rickshaws should not be declared illegal.
The petition was filed by Jahurul Islam Masum and Md Momin Ali, president and secretary of the Brihottor Dhaka City Corporation Pedal-rickshaw Malik Oikya Jote, respectively.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has identified battery-powered rickshaws and similar three-wheelers as significant contributors to Dhaka’s worsening road safety situation. Despite repeated drives by Dhaka’s two city corporations to curb their use, these vehicles remain a persistent problem.
An estimated 12 lakh rickshaws operate across Dhaka, with many of them being battery-powered. Additionally, older pedal rickshaws are often retrofitted with batteries, converting them into illegal motorised three-wheelers.
Battery-powered rickshaws are most prevalent in side streets and alleys but frequently stray onto main roads, causing further safety concerns. Areas such as Khilgaon, Manda, Basabo, Rampura, Jatrabari, Mirpur, Uttara, and Mohammadpur are hotspots for these vehicles.
The High Court’s intervention follows growing calls for action to address the proliferation of these unregulated vehicles, which pose risks to both pedestrians and other vehicles.
Petitioners argued that the unchecked presence of battery-powered rickshaws undermines public safety and complicates traffic management.
