New rules to rein in battery-run autorickshaws

The unrestricted movement of battery-run autorickshaws, from the narrow lanes to the main roads of the capital, is now common sight. These risky three-wheelers are even seen on the flyovers and expressways. None of these vehicles have valid licence. Their reckless speed and sudden lane changes are causing fear among pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles on the roads.

Traffic police conduct drives against them from time to time to control the situation. However, the problem has not been resolved. Against this backdrop, the government is going to introduce new rules to rein in autorickshaws. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed spoke about the issue during the third session of parliament.

He said, “Work is underway to bring battery-run and illegal autorickshaws under a specific policy. We do not want many people to suddenly become unemployed. Therefore, they will be removed from the city and main roads in an orderly manner and brought under a specific regulatory framework.”

The new policy is putting emphasis on vehicle design, route determination, driver qualifications, fitness and technical standards. Local Government Ministry sources said the formulation of regulations to bring autorickshaws under control to prevent indiscriminate movement and accidents is almost complete.

Under the regulations, their movement on any national highway will be completely prohibited. Every autorickshaw will be required to obtain mandatory digital registration and a QR code-based licence from the city corporation, municipality or local government authority.

For safety reasons, a minimum age for drivers, a valid driving licence and the use of a specified-colour uniform will be made mandatory. A specific maximum speed limit will be set for battery-run rickshaws to prevent accidents. In addition, strict instructions will be issued for the use of environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries and designated stands instead of indiscriminate parking.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman recently said in an interview, “The problem cannot be solved simply by conducting drives on the roads or dumping vehicles. A coordinated system needs to be developed incorporating issues such as charging facilities, registration, GPS and geofencing.”

The official also emphasized that those who operate or intend to operate garages should be allowed to keep a maximum of five autorickshaws in a garage against a single National Identity Card (NID). According to him, it is important to ensure that not even one additional rickshaw can be kept against a single NID.

There is currently no accurate data on how many battery-run rickshaws are operating in the capital. Neither the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), city corporations nor traffic police have such data.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has 182,630 registered rickshaws, while the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has 28,152. All 210,782 registered rickshaws are pedal-powered.

Auto drivers are frustrated with police drives against unlicensed and risky autorickshaws at different times. They have several organisations as well. Recently, the Jatiya Rickshaw-Van Sramik Shakti held a press conference and placed seven demands before the government.

Disorder on the streets

Autorickshaws have now become a daily source of concern for motorcycle and private car drivers. Sudden lane changes, abrupt U-turns and vehicles entering roads from the wrong direction are creating various problems.

Motorcycle rider Rafiqul Islam said, “Most rickshaw drivers do not know traffic laws. Without understanding lane rules, they suddenly enter lanes used by larger and faster vehicles. As rickshaws do not have rear-view mirrors or indicators, drivers turn without checking whether a fast-moving vehicle is approaching from behind. I have faced such situations many times.”

Private car driver Sahed Ali said, “I was driving normally when one of them suddenly moved from the left to the right and hit my car. Even when their braking systems are not functioning properly, they do not reduce their speed. They do not care about traffic signals either. We pay taxes and follow all the rules. At the end of the day, they violate traffic laws, but cases are filed against us. This cannot continue.”

The actual number of autorickshaws operating in the capital is also unclear. Ahmed Ishaq, supervisor of the Jatiya Rickshaw-Van Sramik Shakti and joint convener of the Jatiya Sramik Shakti, said, “No one can actually give the exact number. However, we estimate that there are between 2 million and 2.5 million in Dhaka city. Across the country, the number could be more than 6 million.”

Workers’ leaders also seek a solution

A large number of auto drivers in Dhaka earn their livelihood by driving autorickshaws on a daily rental basis. They come to the capital because of a lack of employment opportunities in their own areas.

A driver from Gangachara in Rangpur said, “There is only a little work in the area, and then we become unemployed. I do not have land of my own to cultivate. So I am forced to come to Dhaka. But finding work is not easy even after coming to Dhaka. That is why I drive an autorickshaw. No one wants to ride a pedal rickshaw, and it is also more physically demanding. An auto can move faster and earns higher fares. However, I remain afraid whenever I enter the main roads, wondering when the battery might be taken away.”

Shahabuddin Shabu, owner of a garage in Kamrangirchar, estimates that there are more than 5,000 large and small rickshaw garages in Dhaka. He said, “Over the past two years, many low-income people and unemployed youths have benefited from this sector. However, most garages also face problems because they use electricity illegally. We often hear that vehicles have been taken to dumping grounds. If there were clear regulations, we could run our businesses peacefully without administrative harassment.”

As part of efforts to control the situation, traffic police frequently conduct drives to dump rickshaws operating on highways. Small protests often emerge in different parts of the capital at those times. Workers’ leaders lead these protests.

Recently, the Jatiya Rickshaw-Van Sramik Shakti launched a movement demanding an end to the eviction of autorickshaws. At a press conference, they placed several demands before the government. These include stopping the eviction and harassment of rickshaw drivers, formulating policies based on scientific research and urban planning, providing low-cost training and registration, accident insurance, health insurance and old-age allowances.

The Rickshaw, Battery Rickshaw-Van and Easy Bike Sangram Parishad has also been campaigning for similar demands for a long time.

The organisation’s convener, Khalekuzzaman Lipon, said, “I have been working on this issue for 13 years so that these vehicles can be brought under a proper framework. We recently placed 10 demands before the government. These include restoring discipline on the roads, reducing traffic congestion, ensuring the safety of vehicles, drivers and passengers, formulating an integrated policy and regulations, vehicle registration, drivers’ licences and route permits, among other important demands.”

What experts say

Experts are emphasising regulation rather than shutting down autorickshaws to address the crisis. They are calling for swift implementation of the government’s new regulations.

Dr Md Hadiuzzaman, a professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and former director of BUET’s Accident Research Institute (ARI), told Asia Post, “The key to resolving the growing crisis involving autorickshaws on the roads lies in specific regulation. The problem cannot be solved by banning autorickshaws altogether. A blanket ban could make the problem even more complicated. Managing the transport system of a modern city is essentially a scientific process. Therefore, instead of completely banning autorickshaws or remaining inactive, they should be brought under a specific policy and legal framework and regulated.”

He said, “The proposed regulations prepared by the current government provide an excellent and comprehensive framework. They should be approved and implemented as soon as possible. The regulations clearly address issues ranging from the production of autorickshaws to their operation at the field level, the maximum number of vehicles an individual can own and the economic lifespan of the vehicles. Before registration, technical fitness of the vehicles should be ensured."

"Instead of giving city corporations and municipalities sole authority in this regard, assigning responsibility to technically competent institutions such as BUET, other engineering universities and polytechnic institutes would create an effective system of checks and balances.”

Dr Hadiuzzaman said, “There has been politics over controlling autorickshaws in the past, but due to a lack of effective initiatives, the problem has reached its current stage. Unless the government approves the regulations quickly after vetting by the Law Ministry, new autorickshaws without proper standards and specifications will continue to enter the roads every day."

"This will make the situation even more complicated. Restoring discipline on the roads will be possible by implementing these regulations quickly.”