Dhaka moves to rein in battery-powered rickshaws

The government is moving to bring battery-powered and motorised rickshaws in Dhaka under a structured regulatory framework, with approved factories and designated vehicle models planned to curb unauthorised production.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam disclosed the plan on Thursday after inaugurating an automated traffic signal system on a trial basis at Shahbagh intersection.

An inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday discussed the formulation of regulations for battery-powered autorickshaws, Salam said.

Once the proposed rules are finalised and implemented, unauthorised manufacturing, charging and parking of such vehicles will be restricted.

The DSCC administrator said approved autorickshaws and motorised rickshaws would no longer be allowed to be manufactured indiscriminately.

Instead, specific factories would be designated for production in Dhaka, while manufacturers would require approval from the relevant authorities. Under the proposed framework, specific types, models and designs of rickshaws will be developed with technical assistance from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Salam said.

Companies will be able to apply for permission to manufacture the approved models.

People interested in operating the vehicles will subsequently be able to purchase them from authorised factories, he said.

The move is aimed at bringing the production and operation of battery-powered and motorised rickshaws within a more controlled system.

Salam said the number of rickshaws permitted to operate in Dhaka would be determined in coordination with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

This would allow authorities to regulate the number of vehicles alongside the proposed framework governing their production and operation.

The government also plans to gradually transition battery-powered rickshaws to electric systems within a specified timeframe, Salam said.

Greater use of solar power is also being considered as part of the transition to reduce pressure on the electricity grid.