Battery-run rickshaws come out in the evening and roam the entire Dhaka city including main roads, which the City Corporation sometimes conducts operations to stop but this has no effect on the roads, as a result accidents occur every day somewhere or the other due to uncontrolled movement.

Both city corporations of the city said that it is possible to stop battery-powered rickshaws only if the police want to.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan ordered the closure of these rickshaw-vans on June 20, 2021 in the conference room of the ministry. At various times, the city corporation has also been conducting operations to stop them.

The main roads of the capital filled with these battery operated rickshaws at night. These are seen plying. Police try to stop them, but the vehicles continue to ply.

These rickshaws were seen plying on several roads including Paltan, Gulistan, Motijheel, Arambagh, Jatrabari, Sadarghat, Malibagh in the capital. Also in Rampura, Khilgaon, Badda, Nayabazar, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Kamrangir Char, Chawkbazar, Nazirabazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, Dania, Shanir Akhra, pedal rickshaws are moving with motors and batteries.

Not only that, extra fare is being collected from the passengers as there are no other vehicles at night.

At night, when the pressure of other vehicles decreases, these battery-powered rickshaws start coming down. Continues on all routes of the city. There is no obstacle for them to go. And because the number of buses and ordinary rickshaws are less at night, the price of these battery-operated rickshaws increases.

Due to inefficiency, sometimes drivers, sometimes pedestrians become victims of accidents. Apart from this, illegal electricity is being used in these vehicles. In this way several lakhs of batteries are being charged in the garage. The government is losing billions of rupees in revenue. And dishonest autorickshaw owners are profiting.

Rashid Mia, an auto rickshaw driver from Rampura said, “The owner says take the rickshaw. Whatever happens, we will see. If police seized it, they give some money. I get caught a few days ago. Gave 720 taka to police and they released my rickshaw.

Rasel Sabrin, chief property officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Registration of pedal rickshaws generates revenue for the corporation. Battery operated rickshaws are out of registration. Our campaign against these rickshaws is continuing. Only in 2022, 47 operations were conducted against these illegal rickshaws. We have destroyed 262 battery operated rickshaws in this operation. Apart from this, we have collected a fine of 35 thousand taka.

“We have a manpower crisis. The Corporation has a Magistrate. He has to conduct all operations with him. It is not possible to carry out an operation against rickshaws every day with this one. Despite this, I have continued the campaign,” he said.

“Along with the city corporation, the police also have to play an active role. Police can stop these illegal battery operated rickshaws and auto rickshaws if they want,” Rasel added.

SM Mehedi Hasan, DMP joint commissioner (south) told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Our campaign against battery operated rickshaws continues. In this campaign, illegal rickshaws are brought under two types of punishment. First the battery is removed from the rickshaw. Second is dumping.”

“It is not our rule to collect fines. If someone does, he has violated the law. The matter will be looked into,” he added.

@The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on January 19 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.