Dhaka, Aug 30 (V7N) – State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today said the government is moving to bring e-rickshaws under a policy framework, with systematic licensing and registration planned through local government, a move that would help establish discipline in e-rickshaw management while generating revenue for the government exchequer.
The state minister made the remarks at a discussion on the operation and management of battery-run three-wheeler rickshaws across the country, including the cities, held at the meeting room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat, according to a ministry press release.
At the meeting, various stakeholders put forward opinions and recommendations on the management, operation, registration and regulation of e-rickshaws. The meeting also discussed the progress in implementing decisions taken at previous meetings on the issue. Other issues discussed included urban management, discipline in traffic movement, fitness testing and certification of e-rickshaws, garage and charging management, and use of renewable energy.
The state minister said proper and effective implementation of the policy would play an important role in controlling traffic congestion in cities, maintaining discipline in traffic movement and ensuring road safety. Systematic licensing and registration through local government would help establish discipline in e-rickshaw management while generating revenue for the government exchequer. At the same time, it would create an opportunity to bring fitness, charging and other technical issues under an organised framework.
He added that arrangements will be made to test the fitness of existing e-rickshaws and issue certificates, while ensuring that people are not made to suffer in any way. Mir Shahe Alam said the draft rules on e-rickshaw management would be sent to the Law Ministry for vetting, expressing hope that the rules would be formulated and implemented at the earliest.
E-rickshaws began appearing in Bangladesh in the late 2000s and have since proliferated across cities and towns, with estimates suggesting between 40 lakh and 60 lakh such vehicles are currently operating nationwide . However, attempts to regulate the sector have faced challenges, with the government stance having been inconsistent in the past . The Local Government Division has drafted guidelines for bringing battery-run rickshaws under registration in city corporation areas, though the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority has opposed the move, arguing that all motorised vehicles should fall under its purview .
At the meeting, Professor Dr Mohammad Ehsan of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Dr Md Hadiuzzaman of the Department of Civil Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) provided expert opinions on the issue.
Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Freedom Fighter Abdus Salam, Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hassan, Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Asaduzzaman, Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Khaybar Rahman, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Anisur Rahman, and other senior officials of the ministry and city corporations were present.
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