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Rowing boats with oars, paddles or sculls was previously the tradition in the riverways of Bangladesh. But now, these are mostly driven by shallow-machines. Similarly, the plough was mostly used for cultivating land in the past, but this is now being gradually replaced by power-tillers. Human civilisation has in fact made fresh strides over centuries with the help of newer innovations and technologies. Battery-powered rickshaws replacing pedal-driven ones also represent a new technology in the realm of transportation, which exemplifies the manner the country is advancing through an era of mechanisation. Taking a cue from this trend, the battery-powered rickshaws should have been allowed to replace the pedal-driven manual rickshaws gradually and viewed as a positive development even after taking into account the risks of accidents and other relevant issues.
However, the situation on the ground appears to be different, although easy-bikes or battery-driven rickshaws have now become a reality in many cities and towns of Bangladesh. It has also been contributing a lot towards easing the transportation problem at many places. But the metropolis Dhaka has been an exception until recently, although their numbers have risen sharply in recent months. Much heat has also been generated on the Dhaka roads in recent days, as there were agitations across the city following a ruling of the High Court to stop the plying of these vehicles. However, a status-quo is now prevailing in accordance with the chamber judge's order from the Appellate Division of Supreme Court following an appeal lodged by the government; and agitations by the battery-driven rickshaw drivers have subsided for the time being, although their future in Dhaka city still remains uncertain.
The latest debate centring on the battery-powered rickshaws is in fact nothing new. These were previously banned on 22 highways of the country, and the then roads and highways minister had ordered the police to stop the plying of these vehicles in Dhaka city only seven months ago. The owners and drivers of the battery-driven rickshaws then launched a movement against that decision at different parts of the city, and enforced programmes including road-blockades. As a consequence, the then government was compelled to withdraw the minister's decision only five days later by citing the need to protect the livelihoods of low-income people.
In the above backdrop, it has become essential for the current interim government to frame a long-term plan cum policy on the plying of rickshaws, including battery-operated ones, in order to ensure livelihoods of workers as well as avoid future confrontations and indiscipline. As the first step, the government should take the initiative to hold dialogues on the subject with all relevant stakeholders including the rickshaw drivers.
Many hold the view that pedal-driven rickshaws are not appropriate for a country like Bangladesh for two reasons -- slow speed and lack of productivity. Compared to a pedal-driven rickshaw-puller, a battery-operated rickshaw-driver can generate more services per hour resulting in additional productivity. Consequently, it is certain that the latter increases the productivity of transportation sector and contributes more to economic growth. The pedal -driven rickshaws also require additional manual labour, and its replacement by battery-operated ones frees the driver from dependence on such labour. Their ego is also boosted in the process, as they can also feel that they are part of a modern mechanised society. Moreover, innovations in design now provides cover above the heads of these drivers, which protect them from sun and rain. Overall, the battery-operated rickshaws have been able to bring about radical changes in the livelihoods of the drivers, and the state must consider all these aspects while framing any policy on the subject.
Now the question arises: Should the state facilitate these positive changes, or only the upper-class people should derive benefits from the current era of mechanisation? And shouldn't the state be more caring towards the poor to make them partners in this forward march of technology?
No doubt, the battery-powered rickshaws would also create some problems on the roads, one of the challenges being their co-existence with slower transports like pedal-driven rickshaws and faster vehicles like cars, buses, and trucks. Traffic management in roads becomes difficult due to variations in speed of these transports. Besides, the number of accidents may also rise if appropriate improvements are not made in the design of these rickshaws and the drivers do not become more skilled and efficient.
Taking into consideration all these issues, the eminent economist and former chief of development research at the UN Professor Nazrul Islam has urged the government in a recent article to frame a long-term plan for 5 to 10 years by declaring that the pedal-driven rickshaws would no longer exist after that period. However, this time-limit can be less for cities like Dhaka and more for the districts and upazilas. This would provide a clear time-bound guideline for all stakeholders, and they would be able to decide on their next course of action accordingly. Going one step farther, the government can even declare that no rickshaws would run on the streets after 15 to 20 years, and they should all be replaced by CNG-driven ones, Dr Islam opined.
Till now, the transformation of the pedal-driven rickshaws into battery-operated ones has progressed through a bottom-up and voluntary process. Therefore, there is scope to examine the design of these rickshaws in order to make them safer. The long-term policy can also address the likely losses to the owners and drivers of pedal-driven rickshaws in future by facilitating their investment in battery-operated ones through provision of credit. Similar initiative can be taken for subsequent switching to CNG-run vehicles from battery-operated rickshaws. Side by side, steps should be taken for the registration of these rickshaws, ensuring their safe design, speed-limits, training and skills-certification of drivers, etc. Overall, a positive outlook should be nurtured regarding the use of battery-run rickshaws, and the emphasis should always be on how newer technologies can be best utilised for the greater good of society and the working-class people.