Halt battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka in three days: HC

The High Court has directed the authorities concerned to stop the operation of battery-operated rickshaws in Dhaka city within the next three days. 

The court also issued a ruling asking why the inaction of the authorities concerned in banning these rickshaws should not be declared illegal.

A HC bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Mahmudur Rajib passed the order after a primary hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard.

Advocates Sanjid Siddiqui and Tahsina Mridu represented the petitioners in court. 

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) sources said the road safety situation in the Dhaka city has deteriorated due to the plying of battery- or motor-operated rickshaws or vans or same kind of three-wheelers. 

The HC bench directed to stop plying of unfit battery-operated rickshaws in Dhaka taking the operation of those unsuitable and dilapidated vehicles as punishable offence.

It is learnt that there are some 12 lakh rickshaws plying in the capital. A large part of which is battery-operated. Besides, many old pedal-operated rickshaws are being mechanized by installing batteries. Though the two city corporations launched drives on several phases, it could not be stopped plying of these vehicles.

Battery-operated rickshaws are more common in the lanes and by-lanes than on the main roads in the capital. These rickshaws also ply on the main roads freely if they get opportunity. The number of battery-powered rickshaws is higher at Khilgaon, Manda, Basabo, Maniknagar, Rampura, Badda, Sayedabad, Jatrabari, Kadamtali, Sabujbagh, Shyampur, Demra, Mohammadpur, Basila, Uttara, Bhatara, Dakshinkhan, Uttarkhan, Moynartek, Mirpur and Pallabi areas.