3,000 autorickshaw bring off daily in the capital

Autorickshaws are rapidly increasing on roads across the country, with around 3,000 new vehicles being manufactured every day. 

The growing number of these three-wheelers is being linked to rising road accidents, prompting experts to call for tighter controls on the import and production of their components.

An investigation found 11 causes of autorickshaw accidents, including mechanical incompatibility  that 2,500 to 3,000 new rickshaws are being manufactured every day at various workshops in eight areas, including Mirpur, Kamrangirchar, Hazaribagh and Mohammadpur. 

Analysts say reducing the import of spare parts could have a greater impact than simply banning autorickshaws from the roads according to A BUET study.

According to data from the Road Safety Foundation, 1,865 people were killed in accidents involving  autorickshaws and other three-wheelers in 2025. The data from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) shows that 1,114 people were treated after being injured in the autorickshaw accidents during the first four months of 2026. In 2024, an average of more than 11 people received treatment every day for similar accidents.

“We have to start by ensuring that no new ones are produced. We import the angles or chassis used for these vehicles, as well as the motors. So, we need to control the imports first. If the inputs are stopped, the output will automatically stop. We have to start with imports. Then we need to take action against the workshops. After that, we need to address electricity wastage and theft. Electricity is being stolen throughout the night, while during the day these vehicles are causing traffic congestion and accidents on the roads.” said BUET Professor Dr Hadiuzzaman.

DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman said, “The task is not that easy. We have to be given some time. However, we are trying. We try to keep our main roads free of these vehicles. But we humbly admit our failure as well�"we cannot keep the roads completely free. With the manpower we have at our disposal, it is not possible to keep them completely clear manually.”

To bring discipline to the roads, the government prepared guidelines for autorickshaw management in 2025. However, the guidelines have yet to be implemented because the necessary gazette notification has not been issued.

From January to April this year, police said they took nearly 175,000 measures against illegal autorickshaws. Of these, 3,518 vehicles were sent to dumping yards.

MT/TF