The Bangladesh Passengers' Welfare Association on Monday urged the formulation of a policy to regulate the operation of battery-operated rickshaws and small vehicles.
This statement was made during a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, demanding the urgent creation of a policy to manage these vehicles.
According to the organization, registering four million battery-operated auto-rickshaws through city corporations, municipalities, and upazila councils and issuing licenses to drivers at a nominal fee could generate approximately Tk5,000 crore in annual revenue.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, the general secretary of the association, said that since 2016, when electric vehicles (e-rickshaws) began to proliferate, the organization has proposed various measures to government forums to regulate this sector.
He added that under the previous Awami League government, Tk40,000 crore in illicit tolls were collected annually from the 4 million auto-rickshaws operating across the country.
As a result, the unchecked presence of motorized rickshaws on major roads and highways has become rampant.
Chowdhury also accused certain members of parliament and ministers of being involved in the operation of these illegal vehicles, which hindered regulatory efforts.
The press conference highlighted that the unregulated growth of motorcycles, battery-operated rickshaws, three-wheelers, and e-rickshaws has led to a rise in road accidents and fatalities.
Data from various hospitals indicated that 53,207 individuals were admitted to seven major hospitals in 2023 alone due to road accidents, with additional injuries reported daily across district and private hospitals.
Although the Ministry of Road Transport drafted a policy in 2021 to regulate three-wheelers and similar motorized vehicles, the Covid-19 pandemic saw an additional 16 million battery-operated rickshaws and 20 million motorcycles on the roads between 2021 and 2022.
Despite the resulting traffic congestion and accidents, the policy was never finalized.
Recently, the High Court ordered a ban on battery-operated auto-rickshaws in Dhaka within three days.
However, the ensuing removal attempt led to protests, blockades, and clashes between law enforcement and auto-rickshaw operators.
The association presented an eight-point proposal to resolve the issue:
- Finalizing and implementing the 2021 draft policy in consultation with stakeholders.
- Modifying vehicle designs for improved safety under the supervision of Buet, Cuet, Ruet, and the army.
- Registering battery-operated rickshaws through local authorities based on road capacity.
- Mandatory basic training for drivers, followed by low-cost licensing.
- Installing GPS systems in all battery rickshaws for speed and route control.
- Strictly banning such vehicles on national highways and main roads.
- Halting imports of battery-operated rickshaw parts.
- Establishing regulated fare structures through public hearings.