Electric Three-Wheelers Must Be Regulated—Now, Not Later

Electric three-wheelers have become an inseparable part of urban and semi-urban transport in Bangladesh.

They provide affordable mobility, generate livelihoods for thousands, and contribute to a greener alternative to fossil-fuel transport. Yet their rapid, unplanned expansion has also exposed a dangerous regulatory vacuum.

Without clear rules, electric three-wheelers are increasingly becoming a threat to road safety, traffic discipline, and environmental sustainability. Regulation is no longer optional—it is urgent.

At present, many electric three-wheelers operate without registration, fitness certificates, or standardized designs.

Vehicles assembled locally with substandard components share roads with buses and trucks, often without proper brakes, lights, or stability controls.

This lack of uniform safety standards directly contributes to accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The state cannot promote green transport while ignoring the basic responsibility of protecting lives.

Equally concerning is the absence of driver regulation. Many drivers operate without proper licences or training, navigating busy roads with little understanding of traffic laws.

This undermines the rule of law and places pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers at constant risk. Any serious transport system requires licensed drivers, compulsory training, and enforceable accountability.

Unregulated battery use is another looming crisis. Poor-quality lead-acid batteries, unsafe charging practices, and informal recycling have severe environmental and public-health consequences.

Without standards for battery quality, disposal, and charging infrastructure, the promise of “clean transport” risks becoming a new source of pollution and urban hazard.

Regulation does not mean banning electric three-wheelers. It means recognising them formally, setting clear design and speed limits, restricting their operation on highways, and integrating them into urban transport planning.

Registration, route permits, vehicle fitness checks, and compliance with safety standards—overseen by bodies such as the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority—are essential steps toward order and safety.

Critically, regulation also protects livelihoods. A clear legal framework would provide job security to drivers, encourage responsible investment, and allow manufacturers to innovate within defined safety and environmental standards.

Chaos benefits no one—not passengers, not drivers, and not the state.
Moreover, Lead-acid batteries are harmful to both human health and the environment.

They release toxic lead and acid, which can contaminate soil, air, and water if improperly handled or recycled.

Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. Electric three-wheelers can either remain symbols of disorder and risk, or become a regulated, safe, and sustainable pillar of urban mobility.

The choice should be obvious. Delay will only cost more lives, more damage, and more public trust. Regulation must come now.