Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain spoke at the inauguration ceremony of a training programme on low-speed battery operated three-wheeler (e-rickshaw) at the auditorium of Nagar Bhaban DNCC. Photo: PID

DHAKA, June 28, 2025 (BSS)- Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain today highlighted crucial role of rickshaw pullers in the July mass uprising, saying once they are brought under a licensing system, no one will be able to label them as illegal or harass them.

“Our rickshaw pullers were among the key participants in the July mass uprising. By incorporating them into a licensing framework, we can ensure that they are no longer considered illegal, nor they will face harassment, allowing them to ply rickshaw with rightful civic recognition,” he said.

The adviser made this remark while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of a training programme on low-speed battery operated three-wheeler (e-rickshaw) at the auditorium of Nagar Bhaban of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said a press release.

He said both rickshaw driver licensing and vehicle registrations system will be made available online to eliminate opportunities for corruption. 

Initially, he said, a fixed number of e-rickshaws will run within Zone-1 of Dhaka's two city corporation areas and the number will be gradually increased.

An apps and website will be developed to bring all rickshaws under a network and the license plate will have a quick response (QR) code to facilitate traffic police to get information about the vehicle.

Asif Mahmud further said that after August 5, when no traffic police were on duty, students voluntarily took on traffic management responsibilities without any payment, driven by a strong sense of patriotism. 

From that point of view, students were included in the master trainer training sessions alongside personnel from the police and Department of Youths, he said.

Referring to the data on road safety during recent Eid, he said, approximately 32 percent of road accidents are linked to auto-rickshaws. 

Despite various challenges and time constraints, the initiative is being launched through the collective efforts of all, he added.

Prior to the programme, he inspected newly designed battery-powered rickshaws showcased on the ground floor of Nagar Bhaban.

Local Government Division Secretary Rezaul Maksud Jahedi presided over the function while Chief Adviser’s special assistants Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb and Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, and administrators of two city corporations were present.