Registration of battery-run three-wheeler e-rickshaws begins on Monday in 13 city corporations, as the government moves to bring the vehicles under a legal regulatory framework.
Drivers will be brought under a licensing system in phases at a later stage.
The decision was announced on Sunday by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam while briefing journalists at the secretariat on the new rules governing the movement of battery-powered three-wheelers in city corporation areas.
A legal basis for e-rickshaw registration was established through an amendment to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, passed by parliament in 2026.
The state minister said a provision had been incorporated into Section 120 of the law. Following the formulation of the rules and vetting by the Ministry of Law, they were published in the official gazette.
As a result, there are no longer any legal obstacles to starting the registration process, he added.
Registration and renewal fees
Under the new rules, the registration fee for a two-passenger e-rickshaw has been set at Tk8,000. After a fitness test, the vehicle will require annual renewal at a fee of Tk4,000.
For a four-passenger e-rickshaw, the registration fee is Tk10,000, while the annual renewal fee has been fixed at Tk500.
An e-rickshaw will be allowed to operate for a maximum of 12 years under the rules.
Owners will also have to pay an additional Tk1,000 for a fitness certificate bearing a QR code issued by the relevant city corporation.
Committee to regulate production
The government has formed a seven-member committee to oversee e-rickshaw production and recommend approval for manufacturers, the state minister said.
The committee comprises representatives from the Local Government Division, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), city corporations, police traffic departments and district administrations.
Mir Shahe Alam said e-rickshaws must be manufactured in accordance with designs approved by BUET. Existing vehicles will also have to be modified to comply with the approved designs.
Manufacturers will make the necessary modifications in line with BUET-approved designs and with permission from the relevant city corporation, he added.
The rules also prohibit the breaking up or melting down of e-rickshaw batteries.
Violations and penalties
The new rules identify several offences related to e-rickshaw operations. These include operating without registration, exceeding the permitted speed limit, carrying more passengers than allowed, using unauthorised batteries and making unauthorised alterations to the motor or vehicle structure.
Operating in restricted areas, reckless driving, carrying goods without passengers, violating traffic signals and fleeing the scene of an accident will also be considered offences.
The state minister said legal action would be taken against those violating the rules.
Eight zones planned in Dhaka
The government plans to divide Dhaka into eight zones for e-rickshaw operations, with four zones under each of the two city corporations.
Each zone will have a distinct colour for its e-rickshaws, preventing vehicles registered in one zone from operating in another.
The number of e-rickshaws allowed in each zone will be determined through discussions between traffic police and the two city corporations, taking traffic congestion into account.
However, no overall cap has yet been set on the total number of e-rickshaws, the state minister said.
Driver licences to follow registration
Although the new rules include provisions for issuing driving licences to e-rickshaw operators, the government will not introduce the system immediately, the state minister said.
He said processing applications from a large number of drivers simultaneously would be difficult for city corporations. The government would therefore prioritise vehicle registration before bringing drivers under the licensing system through a separate notification.
No immediate eviction of e-rickshaws
The state minister urged existing e-rickshaw drivers in Dhaka not to panic, saying the government had no plans to abruptly stop their operations.
He asked drivers to continue operating as usual for now, adding that vehicles would be registered gradually in accordance with the rules and illegal battery-powered rickshaws would be phased out.
The registration process could take several days or weeks, depending on how it progresses, he said.
Solar-powered charging stations
The new rules also provide for regulating e-rickshaw charging stations. Charging points will be permitted at designated locations.
Businesses able to provide solar-powered charging facilities for e-rickshaws will be eligible for approval or trade licences from city corporations.
Legal action will be taken against unauthorised use of electricity for charging the vehicles. City corporation magistrates will regularly monitor charging operations, the state minister said.
Fares to be fixed per kilometre
E-rickshaw fares will be determined after the registration process begins, Shahe Alam said.
The per-kilometre fare will be fixed through discussions involving vehicle owners, traffic authorities and the city corporations.
