A ban on battery-powered rickshaws in parts of the capital has ignited confrontations between drivers and residents, with violent clashes erupting near the Banani-11 bridge and across the Gulshan area on Monday (21 April).
Footage circulating on social media showed scenes of unrest, as locals confronted protesting rickshaw drivers, some of whom had blocked the Banani-11 bridge.
Other videos showed groups of men positioned along key roads in Gulshan, attacking any battery-run rickshaws attempting to operate in defiance of the new restrictions.
The protest stems from a decision by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Gulshan Society to prohibit battery-powered rickshaws from operating on roads in Gulshan, said the police.
The ban, which came into effect on 19 April, applies to both motorised and pedal-powered rickshaws across Dhaka North’s main roads.
Nahid Ul Mostaque, DNCC’s Zonal Executive Officer (Zone-3), noted that previously issued identity cards by the Gulshan and Banani Societies allowing rickshaws to operate are no longer valid.
“The system of permitting rickshaws based on local society-issued ID cards is now obsolete,” said Mostaque.
“We are working on formal licensing mechanisms, and the matter is currently under review by the ministry. Drives are ongoing against unlicensed and illegally operating rickshaws.”
DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz earlier stated that the city authority is implementing enforcement measures, including physical deterrents and dedicated drives, to remove battery-powered rickshaws from the main thoroughfares.
The legal framework around the ban has been in flux.
In November, the Appellate Division’s Chamber Court of the Supreme Court issued a status quo on a High Court order that sought to prohibit battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka, following a surge in traffic violations and accidents linked to such vehicles.
Despite earlier protests by drivers and owners, the reversal of the High Court order allowed the city authority to resume efforts to remove the vehicles.
At present, around 1.2 million rickshaws operate in Dhaka, with a growing proportion being battery-powered.
Many traditional pedal rickshaws have been converted into motorised three-wheelers through unregulated and often unsafe modifications.
