Notice seeks battery- rickshaw rules
A legal notice has been served on the government seeking a nationwide ban on pedal-driven rickshaws, formulation of a policy for battery-run rickshaws and stricter regulation of private cars in the interest of environmental protection.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun sent the notice on Tuesday, September 1, in the public interest.
The Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of the Road Transport and Bridges Division, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been made respondents in the notice.
The notice asks the authorities to take necessary administrative measures within 10 days and inform the petitioner of the steps taken. Otherwise, it warned that a writ petition would be filed before the High Court under Article 102 of the Constitution.
The notice claims that less than 1 percent of the country’s population uses private cars, yet these vehicles occupy a disproportionate share of road space. It also says large-scale fuel imports put pressure on foreign exchange reserves and government subsidies.
It further argues that toxic emissions from private cars contribute significantly to air pollution and pose a threat to public health, which it says is contrary to the constitutional right to life. The notice therefore calls for strict controls on private cars and higher environmental taxes on them.
The notice describes pedal-driven rickshaws as a form of “modern slavery.”
Lawyer Mahmudul Hasan Mamun said marginalised people are forced to perform the physically demanding work because of extreme poverty, leading to premature ageing and permanent physical injuries. Citing Article 34 of the Constitution, which prohibits forced labour, he called for an immediate ban on pedal rickshaws.
The notice describes battery-run rickshaws as a more humane and modern form of local transport, citing technological advancement. It claims that 99 percent of ordinary people depend on public transport and rickshaws and argues that the sector should not be banned. Instead, it calls for a scientific regulatory framework covering speed limits, braking systems and structural safety.
Regarding electricity consumption by battery-run rickshaws, the notice argues that their use does not constitute a waste of state resources. It says that if domestically generated electricity helps facilitate transportation and economic activity for the majority of people, its use is justified under the principle of proportionality and equitable distribution of national resources.
The notice also calls for greater promotion of ride-sharing, rent-a-car and metered vehicle services to reduce unemployment and traffic congestion.
It ultimately urges the government to limit the number of private cars and prioritise public transport and safe rickshaws in order to protect public health, the environment and the national economy.
