Illegal CNG-powered auto-rickshaws continue to proliferate in the capital, flouting a High Court ban. These gray or silver-colored vehicles persistently ply the roads, with neighboring district autos also entering freely, violating regulations. Additionally, CNG autorickshaws with private registration plates operate as rentals, fueling an illicit trade allegedly facilitated by complicit police and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) officials.

According to BRTA data, Dhaka city alone hosts 20,879 CNG auto-rickshaws, with over 15,000 in passenger service and more than 5,000 registered as private. However, an estimated 20,000 additional CNG auto-rickshaws operate illegally across Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, and surrounding districts, largely undocumented and unregulated.

Owners revealed that, approximately 15,000 CNG auto-rickshaws from 2002 and 2003 models, with a nine-year lifespan, were imported into Dhaka. These vehicles operated until December 2018, with some extensions granted.

Following this, a replacement scheme was initiated, involving the verification of chassis and engine numbers and the decommissioning of outdated CNG auto-rickshaws. The process entails the removal of chassis, engine numbers, and plates using a gas cutter, followed by demolition with an excavator, with new autorickshaw registrations issued to owners.

Despite regulations, many CNG auto-rickshaws bearing Metro 'Tha' number plates continue to transport passengers in Dhaka. BRTA confirms that expired CNG vehicles are prohibited from operating in the capital under this series, yet 'Tha' series CNG auto-rickshaws are observed freely traversing various areas, including Mohakhali, Gabtali, Gulshan, and Dhanmondi.

Dhaka District Four Stroke Autorickshaw CNG Drivers Union Senior Vice President Md. Omar Farooq Chowdhury said that while destroying old CNG auto-rickshaws in BRTA, many people collected their bodies by trickery. Later they adjust the engine in those bodies. This work is being done in front of the eyes of BRTA officials from police administration. At the same time, CNG autorickshaws of Dhaka district and surrounding districts and private CNG autorickshaws are running regularly in Dhaka city. Expired and illegal vehicles are being paid 4,000 to 5,000 taka per month to the police.

CNG autorickshaw driver leaders have complained that there is no opportunity to ply CNG autorickshaws registered from any other area in the capital except 'Dhaka Metro'. CNG autorickshaws outside Dhaka Metro are still running. CNG autorickshaws registered from Dhaka district are running the most. Apart from this, many CNG autorickshaws registered from neighboring Narayanganj, Gazipur and Munshiganj are plying in Dhaka.

On the other hand, BRTA said that there is no opportunity to run CNG autorickshaws in Dhaka city without registration, similarly expired or unfit CNG autorickshaws are also not running.

In this regard, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad told Bangladesh Pratidin that according to the rules, CNG auto-rickshaws registered in the city will ply in Dhaka city. These vehicles cannot go outside. District vehicles will not be able to enter Dhaka City. But those have been seen plying. BRTA is not sitting. Illegal CNG auto-rickshaws are being dumped in the campaign. If the police play a more strict role in stopping illegal CNG, it will come under control.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on May 9 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)