Govt moves to regulate Dhaka’s battery-run rickshaws

In order to bring all types of battery-run and motorised rickshaws under discipline and a risk-free traffic system in the capital city, a government move is in the offing to ensure registered plying and legally authorised manufacturing of such hugely public-needed vehicles only by licensed workshops.
The move was disclosed at a discussion on e-rickshaw management held on Thursday at the Local Government Division conference room at the Secretariat, chaired by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam.
The proposed framework seeks to bring the manufacture and operation of such vehicles under formal controls, rather than relying solely on enforcement against vehicles already operating on the streets.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology will provide technical assistance for the initiative.
State Minister Mir Shah Alam said a policy for e-rickshaw management was being formulated under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 and the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Effective implementation of the policy would help reduce traffic congestion, improve discipline on roads and strengthen road safety, he added.
He further said a systematic licensing and registration system through local government institutions would bring e-rickshaws under proper management and generate public revenue. 
Speakers stressed the need for an integrated framework covering registration, licensing, technical standards and designated operating areas to ensure safer and more organised e-rickshaw operations in Dhaka.
Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam said authorised auto-rickshaws and motorised rickshaws would no longer be allowed to be manufactured indiscriminately across the capital.
“Specific workshops will be designated for manufacturing rickshaws in Dhaka. Permission from the relevant authorities will be required to produce these vehicles at the designated workshops,” he said.