Need to Find Employment Alternatives for Workers

Battery-powered rickshaws and easy-bikes have flooded the streets of the capital, Dhaka, and other parts of the country. However, on December 15, 2021, the High Court ordered the cessation of 4 million battery-powered vehicles. Additionally, there were restrictions on the import and sale of these vehicles. Despite the High Court's directives, these vehicles continue to operate on the roads, including major streets of the capital, in blatant disregard of the order. This has led to frequent accidents and fatalities, which is a cause for concern.

Research from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology reveals that 20% of annual road accident fatalities are due to battery-powered vehicles. The question arises: how are these illegal vehicles still operational? Reports from various newspapers indicate the involvement of unscrupulous individuals and powerful syndicates in keeping these vehicles on the road. Among the culprits are local leaders, extortionists, and even some members of law enforcement. The illegal vehicle operators claim they pay regular bribes for tokens, which allow them to run their vehicles without hindrance. We urge the authorities to comply with the High Court's orders and swiftly shut down these illegal vehicles by bringing the guilty parties to justice.

Occasionally, mobile courts conduct raids to curb these illegal auto-rickshaws in the capital. However, it is disheartening to see these vehicles back on the roads the very next day after the raids.

In a notable incident, rickshaw drivers attacked five police boxes in the Mirpur and Pallabi areas of Dhaka in protest against a police operation to remove battery-powered rickshaws. During this time, they brutally beat up two police officers and destroyed a motorcycle on the road.

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing trend of adding batteries to pedal-powered rickshaws. Now, battery-powered rickshaws are predominant in district towns, while pedal-powered rickshaws are rarely seen.

Rickshaw drivers argue that battery-powered vehicles reduce physical strain, allow for faster travel, and enable them to earn more money in the same amount of time. However, the administration objects to this practice. The police frequently impede their operations, but if bribed, they allow the rickshaws to run.

Each easy-bike and auto-rickshaw contains multiple batteries that need to be charged overnight. These vehicles are charged using electricity from the national grid, leading experts to partly blame them for the electricity shortage. Shutting down these vehicles would save electricity. Nonetheless, before halting these vehicles, consideration must be given to the livelihoods of the workers involved. Therefore, authorities need to find alternative employment opportunities for these laborers.