Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 13, 2025 (BSS) – Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) today said it would debar rickshaw movement on main thoroughfares within its purview while a campaign is underway against battery-driven rickshaws.

“Rickshaw will run on internal or service roads alone,” DNCC administrator Mohammad Azaz told newsmen as he was overseeing a drive against battery-run rickshaws at Asad gate area as part of a campaign.

He said the ban would be enforced as part of the interim government plan to ensure road safety and discipline vehicles on the city streets while it included the drive against the battery-run rickshaws as well, jointly by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the DNCC.

Azaz said a recent survey found the battery driven rickshaws to cause 20 percent road accidents with women and children being the majority of victims as these vehicles were not manufactured following any proper guideline or considering passengers safety.

He said pedestrians also were often seen to be overrun by these vehicles due to their design and uncontrolled speed.

The top DNCC official, however, said the government allowed some companies to manufacture battery-run rickshaws in line with a design developed with the help of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

He said initiatives were taken to train rickshaw drivers who would get license to ply on designated city streets with approved rickshaws under a fare chart to be developed for certain distances.