Rickshaws of Dhaka city

In the crowded streets of Dhaka, rickshaw is an essential nuisance. A frail, three-wheeled rickshaw, pedaled by a driver who may be in his early twenties or even late sixties and hurling abuse at another rickshaw driver pedalling past him is a common sight on the streets of Dhaka. Since it is risky for both fast and slow-moving vehicles to use  the same road, the city authority had since long been thinking of rickshaw-free Dhaka streets. Hence came the idea of VIP roads. But rickshaws are often seen plying the VIP roads breaking the rules while the traffic police looking the other way. In fact, cycle rickshaws, (different from pulled rickshaw which first appeared in Kolkata in India at the turn of the 19th century), as historical records go, were first introduced in Narayanganj and Netrakona by British jute merchants in the late thirties of the last century. However, Chattogram had its first rickshaw brought from Myanmar in the early 20th century. It appears the rickshaws have become too entwined with the capital city's history and culture to be removed by any swift official diktat.

Understandably, the streets of Dhaka could not be rid of rickshaws. Meanwhile, battery-run rickshaws have joined the pedalled ones in large numbers further worsening the chaos called Dhaka traffic. These are improvised version of existing rickshaws and their makers do not seem to follow any structural principles while creating these contraptions. And that is also not expected as the same old rickshaw mechanics are behind the design of the battery-run rickshaws. Recently, a deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) told the media that managing the battery-run rickshaws is proving to be a big problem now. That is because, the police look after traffic discipline, not issuing of permission for those vehicles to use the city's roads. Clearly, there is a lack of coordination between different city authorities. But when exactly did these battery-operated rickshaws first appeared on the city streets?  A report says that these vehicles, also known as autorickshaws, or simply, autos, among the community of rickshaw drivers, were first introduced in the city in 2010. However, seeing that  the number of these vehicles has been increasing uncontrollably and swamping the most busy city streets, last year on November 19, the High Court  ordered that movement of battery-run rickshaws within the metropolitan area of Dhaka should be banned within three days (from November 19, 2024). But the protest demos and rallies blocking the streets practically brought the city to a standstill. Eventually, the prosecution appealed against the High Court rule. Finally, following a status quo issued by the apex court on November 15's HC directive, the battery-run rickshaws again returned to the streets of Metropolitan Dhaka. The sudden rise of battery-operated rickshaws has to do with smaller investment and fetches better return on investment than a CNG-run autorickshaw. Notably, though the actual cost of CNG-run auto is around Tk.600,000, after obtaining license its price shoots up to around Tk.2 million. But comparatively, its return on investment is lower. Unsurprisingly, many small investors are behind the battery-run rickshaws. Many passengers prefer the battery-operated rickshaws to CNG autos because the former is easily available and cheaper than CNG autos.

Granted that the battery-run rickshaws are gaining popularity due to the advantages of their low fares and ubiquity. But then should these improvised vehicles, not certified by any appropriate agency about their roadworthiness be allowed to grow in such numbers unchecked? The city authorities need to think long and hard about the matter. In this connection, there is a development that may provide an answer to the tricky issue. A team of BUET is learnt to have designed a rickshaw that is both safe and low-cost. The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) reportedly expressed interest about BUET-designed rickshaw. In that case, the existing rickshaws could be gradually phased out from the city, thinks DNCC authority.

Maybe this new, BUET-designed rickshaw is the answer to Dhaka's traffic woes.

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