Some members of his family call him “crazy”. Others think he is a trailblazer. Tapan, the man in question, however, feels he is just fulfilling his long-term wishes.

Tapan is a CNG-run three-wheeler driver in the capital. Except, his vehicle is unlike any other you have seen before.

In the profession for over 10 years, Tapan started embellishing his vehicle four months ago. It now provides an unmatched three-wheeler experience.

The vehicle comes packed with features to make one's journey as smooth as possible. There is WiFi, a filtered-water system, calculator, two fans, a mounted car TV loaded with classic Indian and Bangladeshi movies and much more. A mirror faces the passenger. There are combs, facial tissue and even a nail clipper.

But that's just the interior. Outside, the vehicle has an actual, thriving garden on its roof. This little piece of nature houses both exotic and local plants.

“It looks beautiful and helps keep the inside of the vehicle cooler,” Tapan said.

The 50-year-old said although he had begun making additions to his vehicle recently, he had always wanted to do so.

“I pondered about the ways I could make the experience better for my passengers,” he said.

Interestingly, Tapan does not own the vehicle  he has decorated with such passion. He rented it from one Aftabuddin, a garage owner in Khilgaon.

“I told him I wanted to do all those and he agreed, provided I paid for those,” he said.

Tapan has already invested around Tk 40,000 on the vehicle's decorations. However, he does not charge his passengers extra.

“If passengers like the service, then they tip me,” he said with a smile. Tapan takes home around Tk 400-600 per day, on par with other CNG drivers.

The vehicle also has a mini-garden on its rooftop, with various kinds of plants and decorative lighting. Photo: Shaheen Mollah

But his costs are much higher. For instance, while he pays Tk 900 as rent for the vehicle per day, he also has to make monthly payments of around Tk 2,500 in other expenses -- including the cost WiFi, maintaining the garden and subscription to three newspapers.

Tapan, a resident of Khilgaon and originally from Brahmanbaria, said not everyone in his family understood and supported his passion.

“I want to serve people and I want them to have a good experience when they get in my CNG,” he said. 

“Sometimes even the passengers wonder why I did all this. But when I make even one of them happy, it makes my day.”

Tapan starts his day at 8:00am every day and finishes around 9:30pm. Even at night, his three-wheeler is hard to miss. Fairy lights bring life to the garden on the roof and also the interior.

“I will make more additions when necessary,” a proud Tapan said.