In the bustling streets of Dhaka, where traffic congestion is a daily affair, motorcycles make up a whopping half of the city's registered vehicles.
The number of registered vehicles in Dhaka, as of July 23, is 2,029,979, and of these, 1,068,866 are motorcycles, according to a report by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
While the BRTA has declared that a driving license is required for motorcycle registration, it has not been able to begin the process for unknown reasons.
Amidst this administrative backdrop, the timeline for the system’s implementation has undergone multiple extensions, which allowed individuals to register motorcycles with a learner driving license.
Due to the BRTA not taking any effective steps in this regard, motorcycles are increasing on the road on the one hand, while on the other, accidents are taking place due to unruly drivers.
In this regard, Assistant Professor Saifun Newaz, Accident Research Institute (ARI), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), said: "Anyone can register their motorcycle after buying it, as there is no restriction on registration. BRTA does not feel the need to take into account whether the person who rides a motorcycle is skilled or unskilled.”
Average vehicle registration
According to BRTA data, a total of 53,012 motorcycles have been registered in the capital in the seven months to July 2023.
On average, some 353 motorcycles have been registered daily from four BRTA offices in Dhaka on 150 working days in the seven months.
Besides, a total of 74,570 different vehicles have been registered till July this year. In view of this, on average, about 500 vehicles are registered every day in the capital.
Reckless, unregistered vehicles
Apart from the registered vehicles, various sorts of illegal cars, buses, trucks, and others are plying in the capital.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, said: "The number of vehicles on the roads is increasing every day in the capital. Especially since BRTA does not have any obligation to register motorcycles, the number is increasing at an alarming rate. All in all, there is chaos on the roads. Accidents are happening, deaths are on the rise.”
It has been observed that underage drivers are now taking control of vehicles in some of Dhaka's busiest areas, including Mirpur, Farmgate, Nilkhet, and Mohammadpur.
These young drivers, aged below 18, are operating vehicles without possessing valid documents or fitness certifications.
Looking from the outside, it is clearly visible that these vehicles are competing with other vehicles on the road, regardless of the street’s situation. The recklessness can also be visible in the physical state of these vehicles.
Several bus drivers, requesting anonymity, said they have to pay extortion to political leaders and police on a monthly basis. If they pay them, their vehicles are never caught.
“However, if there is pressure from above, sometimes they seize our vehicles and send them to dumping grounds,” said one of the vehicle drivers.
A senior Dhaka Metropolitan Police official, requesting anonymity, said: "There is a shortage of public transport in the capital. The police also have to look at some human aspects considering the movement of office-bound passengers.”