Battery-powered rickshaws continue to ply the main streets of Dhaka despite a ban on them being in effect, as they provide an opportunity for quick earnings.
On September 16, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus held a meeting with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and traffic experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) to discuss solutions for easing the capital’s notorious traffic congestion.
During the meeting, it was decided to ban battery-operated and cycle rickshaws from Dhaka's main roads.
However, this decision has not been widely enforced, as battery-powered rickshaws continue to operate, and even more are being introduced daily in several parts of the city. This not only adds pressure to the national power grid, as the rickshaws are charged using electricity, but also poses a threat to the environment due to the lack of a proper disposal system for expired batteries.
When asked, officials from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's traffic division claimed that they take action against battery-powered rickshaws daily to prevent them from operating on the capital's main roads. However, they face resource limitations in comparison to the scale of the issue.
The situation has worsened since the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime on August 5. Police officers on the streets have become less assertive, sometimes facing criticism from the public, which diminishes the traffic police’s effectiveness, according to a traffic division officer who spoke to the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity.
Why are so many battery-powered rickshaws being introduced on the streets?
Modhubag, located near Hatirjheel Lake, is a popular area for rickshaw passengers, with numerous garages in the vicinity.
On Monday, while speaking with several rickshaw garage owners and managers, this correspondent learned that a paddle-rickshaw owner earns Tk100 to Tk120 from the driver, whereas a battery-powered rickshaw owner earns around Tk350 to Tk400 daily.
The manufacturing costs for both battery-powered and paddle rickshaws are similar, with the battery adding an extra Tk20,000 to Tk25,000.
This means a new paddle rickshaw costs Tk40,000 to Tk45,000 taka to manufacture, while a new battery-powered rickshaw requires Tk60,000 to Tk65,000 in Dhaka.
Rezaul Islam, a manager at a rickshaw garage, said: “Battery-powered rickshaws are causing multiple problems to earn extra money daily. They increase the risk of accidents, strain the electricity supply, harm the environment, and weaken the physical strength of rickshaw pullers.”
Some rickshaw pullers explained that passengers sometimes prefer battery-powered rickshaws because of their lower fares.
“We cannot compete with the battery-powered rickshaws because they are faster and their drivers charge less. This is why passengers choose them despite the risks,” said a rickshaw puller.
More than one million electric battery-driven rickshaws are operating nationwide, with the number in Dhaka growing rapidly each day.