I asked a pedal rickshaw puller standing near a hospital close to Panthapath on Green Road if he is willing to take me to Banglamotor Mor. The driver nodded in agreement, asking for a fare of Tk70.
Just then, a battery-powered rickshaw pulled up. Its glossy paint and neat, comfortable seats caught my eye, and I swallowed my words, abandoning the conversation with the pedal rickshaw puller.
It was a hot and humid afternoon, with patches of dark clouds gathering in the autumn sky, and the occasional raindrop falling.
Glancing up at the sky, I quickly turned my attention from the pedal rickshaw puller and asked the auto-rickshaw driver the same question, but this time, the address shifted to a more formal approach; he agreed, and after a brief negotiation, we settled on a fare of Tk50.
I boarded the vehicle, and with a flick of a switch, we zoomed from BRB Hospital to the Green Road signal.
Coincidentally, the pedal rickshaw puller had arrived there first. His large, glaring eyes met mine, and I turned my head in mild guilt.
As soon as the signal turned green, my auto-rickshaw seemed to transform into the king of the road. It drove straight through the middle, seemingly ignoring bumps and potholes.
I was a bit uneasy, having been involved in road accidents before, and this speed gave me a bit of a fright. I couldn’t help but comment, “You’re driving so fast, it feels like a motor car!” The driver, with a light touch on the brake, responded proudly, “This is no less than a car!”
Indeed, the power of the battery makes these rickshaws feel like rulers of the road.
Drivers pay little heed to other vehicles—whether buses, private cars, or any other fast-moving transport.
The rickshaws cut through the centre of the road, creating a sense of menace.
Across Dhaka, and indeed nationwide, the number of these battery-powered rickshaws has surged at an alarming rate.
The capital’s traffic system is in disarray as these rickshaws operate recklessly on both main roads and alleys. Their unregulated and dangerous driving habits have become a serious concern, leading to further obstacles for other vehicles on the road.
In recent times, the traffic police’s passive role has allowed the chaos to persist. In this environment of near-anarchy, the menace of battery-run rickshaws has only increased.
A survey of areas such as New Market, Science Lab, Karwan Bazar, Bangla Motor, and Shahbagh revealed that these battery-powered auto-rickshaws were running haphazardly on major roads.
They squeezed between buses and private cars, often carrying passengers or goods.
Not only do they flout traffic rules and regulations, but their drivers frequently engage in verbal disputes—sometimes with motorcyclists, sometimes with car drivers.
Even in areas like Hatirjheel, where rickshaws were previously unseen, battery-powered rickshaws are now commonplace.
Social media is rife with jokes about the situation, but the issue remains unresolved.
City residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the presence of these rickshaws on main roads.
While many acknowledge that battery-powered rickshaws have a role to play in Dhaka’s traffic, especially due to their popularity and the comfort they offer with their well-decorated interiors, they strongly feel that these rickshaws should be confined to alleyways.
On the capital’s main roads, these vehicles have become a "nuisance".
Drivers sit back with their feet up, not only breaking traffic laws but also exhibiting arrogant behaviour.
They often openly defy any attempt to restrict their access to main roads.
In Karwan Bazar, a battery-powered rickshaw driver named Wahidur Rahman shared his views: “There’s no reason we shouldn’t be allowed on the main roads. Passengers want us. Our rickshaws don’t cause traffic jams—the jams happen because the traffic police just sit around.”
The drivers of these rickshaws argue that the cost of building and maintaining these vehicles necessitates their use on main roads. Without this, they say, they cannot cover their daily costs, including battery charges and lease fees.
Investigations reveal that these rickshaws use two types of batteries - one with a capacity of 130 volts and another with 230 volts.
Charging a 130-volt battery costs between Tk40-Tk 50, while a 230-volt battery requires Tk 50-Tk70 for a full charge.
However, in private charging setups, drivers report that some stations and garages charge between Tk100-Tk 200 to recharge their batteries.
Hassu, another rickshaw driver, explained, “It costs between Tk90,000 and Tk150,000 to build one of these rickshaws. Then, we have to pay Tk100-Tk150 for charging each day, and Tk500 in lease fees. If we only operate in the alleys, we won’t make enough to live.”
Hassu also suggested that the government could allocate separate lanes for battery-powered rickshaws, but stressed that banning them would not be a solution.
Many agree that banning battery-powered auto-rickshaws outright could create even more problems.
Urban experts suggest the solution lies in the creation of clear regulations and a resettlement policy for the drivers.
“If we fail to regulate the rickshaws now, the situation will worsen. Later, it will take even more effort to bring the streets under control. We cannot simply remove them overnight; we need a well-thought-out strategy,” said Dr Hadiuzzaman, former director of the Accident Research Institute at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and a transport expert.
Dr Hadiuzzaman emphasised the urgent need for policy formulation.
He expressed disappointment that since 2018, various initiatives to create policies regulating battery-powered rickshaws have been proposed but never fully implemented.
The number of such rickshaws has likely reached between 3 and 4 million, and this figure will continue to grow if swift action is not taken.
“The surge in these rickshaws is contributing to the existing collapse of our traffic system, making the challenges even greater,” he added.
In May of this year, the previous government, led by Sheikh Hasina, had issued directives prohibiting battery or motorised rickshaws from operating in the capital.
However, the drivers protested against this decision, forcing the government to retract the ban.
