Rickshaws no longer allowed on main roads: DNCC
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Azaz has announced that rickshaws, battery-powered or otherwise, will no longer be allowed to run on Dhaka's main roads.
Speaking during a joint operation by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and DNCC in the capital's Asad Gate area, Azaz said, "Rickshaws will only be permitted on internal roads."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "With the help of DESCO, we will shut down all charging stations and unregulated workshops that manufacture these vehicles," he added.
The DNCC administrator said, "Approximately 20 percent of road accidents in the city are caused by these battery-powered rickshaws. Women and children are the most affected victims. These vehicles were not developed with any regulatory framework or safety guidelines in mind. The rickshaws often operate at reckless speeds and veer into pedestrian zones, posing serious threats."
Azaz further said, "In an effort to reduce accidents and improve road discipline for public transportation, the government has begun implementing new measures. With support from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), designs for safe battery-powered rickshaws have already been finalised."
He added that a few companies were authorised to begin production.
"DNCC will launch a training program for rickshaw pullers within this month. Only those who pass the training will receive legal licenses. These licenses will be linked to a single national ID, ensuring one rickshaw per individual," Azaz said.
More than 100 illegal battery-powered rickshaws were seized from the main roads of the city during the joint operation.
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