Battery-run e-rickshaws to hit roads
Staff Reporter :
In a major step towards eco-friendly urban mobility, battery-powered e-rickshaws are set to hit the streets of Dhaka’s Uttara, Dhanmondi, and Paltan areas starting this August.
The initiative, spearheaded by Dhaka North and South City Corporations, aims to modernise the city’s transport system while reducing environmental impact.
The announcement was made on Friday during the launch of a driver training programme for three-wheeled, low-speed e-rickshaws, held at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) auditorium.
Speaking at the event, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz said, “Our objective is to make public transport cleaner and more sustainable. We are not removing traditional rickshaws right away both will operate side by side as we gradually transition to electric models.”
Azaz noted that the e-rickshaw service would first be piloted in three areas and then gradually expanded citywide, depending on the programme’s success.
The driver training initiative is being conducted under the supervision of the Local Government Division, with technical support from BRAC, to ensure safe and efficient operations. To implement the initiative effectively, 300 individuals have been selected to serve as master trainers.
Among them, 200 were nominated by the Department of Youth Development and Students Against Discrimination, while 100 were chosen from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
In the first phase, 200 trainers will undergo instruction at 10 designated centres across both city corporations. The remaining 100 will be trained by July 2026. These trainers will later provide hands-on training to e-rickshaw drivers at the community level.
Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who attended the event as chief guest, highlighted the city’s longstanding transportation issues.
“Dhaka’s rickshaw system has evolved without planning for years. This project is a step toward structured, regulated reform,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of digitising the licensing process to prevent illicit transfer and misuse.
“Only drivers with valid digital licences will be allowed to operate, and specific zones will be allocated with a fixed number of permitted rickshaws,” he added.
To guide the initiative, a new policy titled “Three-Wheeled Low-Speed Battery-Operated Rickshaw (E-Rickshaw) Operation Regulations, 2025” has been approved.
All city corporations, including DNCC and DSCC, have received standardised technical specifications and design guidelines for the new e-rickshaws.
Key regulations include:
E-rickshaws will be permitted only on designated roads approved by the respective city corporation and traffic police. Use on highways, elevated expressways, bus-priority routes, and footpaths is strictly prohibited.
Drivers must remain in the left lane and avoid mobile phone use while driving.
Only two passengers may ride per vehicle. Overtaking, unnecessary lane changes, and carrying excess loads are banned.
Horns must not exceed 40 decibels.
Authorities say these measures aim to ensure safe and controlled integration of e-rickshaws into the capital’s complex transport system.
To further support the transition, a safer, more robust e-rickshaw model is being developed by a six-member team led by Professor Md Ehsan of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
The team has been working since 2022 to address concerns about the safety and durability of current models.
The proposed design includes advanced features such as improved braking systems, doors, disc brakes, and larger tires for better road handling.
Professor Ehsan confirmed that the team has been in close consultation with government authorities, and approval of the design is expected soon.
“The goal is to make e-rickshaws safer for both passengers and drivers. We’ve addressed several key safety issues in the new design,” Ehsan said.
Officials believe the approval and rollout of this safer model will pave the way for a more regulated, efficient, and sustainable transport future for Dhaka.