'Illegal charging costs Tk 4,000cr a year'

The government is losing around Tk 4,000 crore in annual revenue due to unauthorised electricity use at charging points for battery-powered rickshaws and other electric three-wheelers, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament on Monday.

He said an estimated 50-80 lakh battery-powered rickshaws, easy bikes and similar electric three-wheelers are consuming around 5 percent of the country’s total electricity, putting significant pressure on the national grid.

The minister made the statement while responding to a notice placed by BNP lawmaker Rahana Akter Ranu (Women Seat-4) under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure, seeking measures to control the unregulated movement of battery-run rickshaws.

Salahuddin said the government was formulating a specific policy to bring the sector under a disciplined and regulated system.

Battery-powered rickshaws, easy bikes and other electric three-wheelers have become an important part of urban and rural transport over the past decade because of their low fares, availability.�"UNB