About a year ago, I hailed a battery-run rickshaw from Hazaribagh to Dhanmondi. The wise old rickshawala only agreed because it was past 11, any earlier and he’d have to risk being stopped and charged by the police upon entering Dhanmondi.
I asked him his opinion on the logic behind this imaginary line that forbade him from entering affluent areas like Dhanmondi, while restricting him within the narrow, crowded lanes of Jigatola -- even other cities had e-rickshaws all over.
He admitted that there were many reckless drivers everywhere, but he also didn’t shy from mentioning the risk of crashing into certain cars in different areas. The difference between Jigatola and Dhanmondi, for him, was that of crashing into an ordinary person’s Toyota versus a minister’s Mercedes.
Whether or not such detached “nimby” politics was genuinely at play, the underlying sentiment of the man’s thoughts was clear -- they had nothing to do with any of it. The politics behind the livelihoods of these 22 lakh rickshawalas was entirely decided without them.
The recent High Court ban of e-rickshaws reeks of this same type of disregard towards those involved. It’s the same, lazy, sweeping solution from the previous regime which we’ve all grown tired of.
Things are supposed to be different now. So, rickshawalas have justifiably taken to the streets and made their legitimate demands, and it’s reassuring to hear that the state is appealing the HC’s rash decision.
Since the fall of the Hasina government and its abstruse rules, electric rickshaws have flocked to all corners of Dhaka as a true expression of their newfound freedom. This surge in e-rickshaws only indicates that both the rickshawalas and the riders have opted for this direction forward. So, why would the HC mandate that we go backward instead?
There is no argument that justifies forcing people to physically pull rickshaws when the non-barbaric alternative already exists. The rickshawalas who went electric, did so at a major cost -- electric rickshaws cost over Tk1 lakh to manufacture, or around four times that of a normal rickshaw to rent. They don’t necessarily even see immediate revenue increases. But for those who had the chance to make that choice, it’s an obvious one. Which rickshaw would you rather drive?
Alas, rickshawalas don’t have luxury or privilege, and they definitely don’t have friends in power. While politicians and decision-makers are making a fuss over the dangers of e-rickshaws, I imagine the buses, trucks, cars, and even the motorbikes, are just snickering away at the back, egging on the bullying.
Rather than denying the existence of the e-rickshaw, the government needs to regulate them to fit an acceptable system and a safe model
The rickshawalas themselves have called for government intervention with their demands. They are crying for licensing and vetting. There appears to be no consistency in the design of the e-rickshaws, and some standardization and bureaucracy could solve everything. Instead, the rickshawalas continue to bear the brunt of the government’s unwillingness to do actual work.
Rather than denying the existence of the e-rickshaw, the government needs to regulate them to fit an acceptable system and a safe model. Hire engineers to make a blue-print that maximizes the safety of everyone involved.
The solutions all exist -- just as they do for any other vehicle. From seatbelts, to the bars like in amusement park rides, or CNG-style cages, passenger and driver safety has many options to choose from. Turning indicators and headlights should be added like with any other vehicle.
Speeds can be easily limited. Vehicles don’t have to travel at maximum capacity, just cut off the power at 25km/hr, or whatever the decided speed limit is. This is how many e-bikes abroad already work.
Licensing at every stage is imperative. Training and licensing of drivers is essential, regardless of battery-run or not, if we ever want our roads to be safer and more organized in the future. Vehicles need to be registered and inspected regularly, and so do charging stations or garages.
While the matter of electricity shortage is largely due to the previous government’s incompetence, charging stations and garages are notorious for stealing electricity through false lines. Given the sheer volume of rickshaws in the city, there needs to be strict management of this. But my personal suggestion is to add a solar panel on top of the rickshaws -- it could potentially generate a surplus of the power needed while doubling as some much-needed shade from the sun.
E-rickshaws are the kind of modernization of heritage that we should take pride in. Its innovation should be supported, celebrated, and encouraged -- maybe even add that bit of flair with a brand new style of “rickshaw art.”
It’s up to the government to uplift this community and create better opportunities for them. Rickshawalas deserve time and effort dedicated to them by the government. They deserve a break.
Tasawar Sattar is an Editorial Assistant, Dhaka Tribune.