The troubling battery-run rickshaws

The authorities appear to be bewildered by the crisis that originated from the High Court order asking them to remove the battery-driven rickshaws from the streets of Dhaka city. A High Court bench has found these tiny three-wheelers illegal and ordered their removal from Dhaka streets within three days. Similar court orders had come earlier from the country's higher court, but authorities could hardly enforce them. This time, the execution of the court order on the ground remains very doubtful. The operators of these vehicles ---the actual number of the battery-driver rickshaws is not known, and a guesstimate puts the number at around 1.0 million in Dhaka city alone --- have already flexed their muscle and caused severe disruption to the movement of trains and vehicles in parts of Dhaka city last week. Most likely, they would become rowdier if the government remained determined to execute the HC order. Under the prevailing circumstances, the authorities might consider devising an escape route or middle ground.

Problems the authorities have been facing with the plying of battery-run rickshaws are, in fact, their own doing. Easy bikes imported from China had first appeared in the streets of small and big urban centres across the country, barring Dhaka. After some years, there were attempts to introduce these vehicles in Dhaka. Relevant authorities then showed a flexible attitude towards the movement of these vehicles, leading to a constant rise in their numbers. The city corporations and the traffic department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) should have seized and dismantled thefirst battery-run rickshaw on any street in Dhaka. Instead, they have allowed these vehicles to grow in number over the years. Allegations have it that these illegal tricycles had become a constant source of earning for a section of corrupt police officials and the local-level leaders of the Awami League, the political party that was ousted from power through an unprecedented student-people uprising in July-August last.

The battery-run rickshaws have proliferated in Dhaka for specific economic, physical and political reasons. Undeniably, the rate of unemployment in both rural and urban areas of the country is very high. The battery-run rickshaws, being very easy to operate, have drawn many unemployed people. These vehicles are popular because they do not require any physical activity. Even women and disabled people are seen operating those. Besides, given attractive returns from relatively small investments, pedal rickshaw owners and others are attracted to building battery-run vehicle versions. Though illegal, local-level leaders of the immediate past ruling party offered support for these vehicles' plying for financial reasons. They had been issuing stamped and signed tickets to each battery-run rickshaw for their unhindered plying in exchange for a monthly fee. Thus, they fetched a substantial amount of money every month.

If really interested in the gradual elimination of battery-run rickshaws from the streets, the government should ban the import of batteries and other accessories, which are now billion-taka businesses, used in the production of these vehicles. Restriction on import should have come long ago, but the government overlooked this measure for reasons best known to it. Under the prevailing situation, authorities might consider allowing a specific number of specially designed rickshaws of a particular colour for certain areas of the city. These vehicles must also carry licence plates issued by the city corporations. Rickshaws have become part of our lives. It may take some more time to part with those.