Staff Reporter :
In a major move to restore discipline on Dhaka’s roads and ensure public safety, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has announced a crackdown on illegal battery-powered rickshaws.
DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz declared that all unauthorised workshops and charging points linked to battery-operated rickshaws will be shut down, with assistance from the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO).
Speaking during a joint drive by the DNCC and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in the Asad Gate area on Tuesday, the administrator stressed that no rickshaws will be allowed on the capital’s main roads.
“Only designated inner roads will be permitted for rickshaw operations,” he said, emphasising the growing concerns over unregulated battery rickshaws that are causing chaos on city streets.
According to a recent study, battery-powered rickshaws are responsible for nearly 20% of all road accidents in the city, with women and children being the most vulnerable victims.
“These rickshaws are often unsafe, lacking any regulatory framework or safety features. Their uncontrolled speed and frequent encroachment onto pedestrian pathways have made them a public safety hazard,” Ejaz stated.
To address these concerns, the government is taking structured measures in partnership with institutions like BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology).
A safe design for battery-powered rickshaws has already been developed, and a few companies have received official approval to manufacture them.
The DNCC plans to introduce a comprehensive training program for rickshaw drivers within this month. Only drivers who pass this training will receive a valid license, allowing them to operate rickshaws manufactured by authorised companies in specific city zones.
Additionally, rickshaws will be confined to their registered areas and will not be permitted to operate beyond them.
A fixed fare system will also be introduced to ease the burden on passengers and prevent fare manipulation.
In a bid to regulate ownership, the DNCC will issue only one rickshaw license per National ID card. This measure aims to curb the growing commercial exploitation of rickshaw operations and ensure accountability among owners.
During the day’s joint operation, approximately 30 battery-operated rickshaws were seised for illegally operating on major city roads.
Several senior officials were present during the operation, including A N M Badruddoza, Regional Executive Officer of DNCC Region-5, and Khondaker Mahbub Alam, Supervising Engineer of the Traffic Engineering Circle.
This initiative marks a significant step toward improving traffic safety, reducing unregulated transportation, and streamlining public transport within Dhaka’s increasingly congested streets.a
