New policy to rein in battery rickshaws on Dhaka roads

The government is formulating a policy to regulate battery-run rickshaws, under which their movement on major roads and in important areas of Dhaka will be controlled, Road Transport Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said on Tuesday.

“We do not want to cause harm to anyone, but Dhaka city cannot be allowed to become dysfunctional for the interests of any particular group. That is the main point,” he said.

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating the re-excavation work of Dhanmondi Lake in the capital. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam was present at the event.

Rabiul said battery-run vehicles were seriously disrupting the functioning of Dhaka and that the government was concerned about the situation. He acknowledged that many people had been involved in the profession for a long time and could face difficulties if restrictions were imposed. However, he said collective agreement was needed to address the existing mismanagement.

“If auto-rickshaws operate anywhere and everywhere in an uncontrolled manner in Dhaka, the city does not function,” he said.

Responding to a question about Jamaat-e-Islami leader Golam Parwar’s statements on battery-run auto-rickshaws, Rabiul criticised the opposition party’s position, saying it failed to understand citizens’ rights and the needs of Dhaka.

He also criticised Jamaat’s political record and its understanding of public expectations.

The minister also spoke about the ongoing renovation of Dhanmondi Lake, saying the facility would be equipped with modern amenities after the work is completed.

“Modern facilities will be developed at the lake. All the facilities, including greenery, that a modern lake should have will be here,” he said.

Rabiul said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had approved two projects aimed at improving the environment in the Dhanmondi area.

The two lake-centred projects, costing around Tk83 crore, are expected to take about two and a half years to complete, he said.

The work includes dredging, excavation, sludge removal and necessary infrastructure development. Some new structures will also be built, including facilities around Nazrul Mancha, which is currently abandoned.

“There are some infrastructure facilities and lighting there. One task has to be completed before another because all the work cannot be done simultaneously,” he said.

The minister stressed that regular maintenance would be necessary to preserve the lake’s greenery and facilities.

He urged citizens not to dump garbage and waste into the lake and called for greater public awareness to maintain a clean environment.

Referring to waterlogging as a major problem in Dhaka during the monsoon, Rabiul said the government had undertaken a separate Tk350 crore project to address the problem.

The project will cover a large part of Dhaka South, including Dhanmondi, low-lying areas of Hazaribagh and Chawkbazar, the area from Shikdar Medical College towards the embankment and Kalabagan.

“We are continuously working and taking up these projects to improve citizens’ quality of life and resolve the obstacles that are affecting it. Once these projects are implemented, Dhaka residents will certainly get a new Dhaka,” he said.