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DSCC Administrator Freedom Fighter Abdus Salam
The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has initiated a comprehensive zone-based movement strategy for battery-powered rickshaws and public transport to restore order on the capital's roads and alleviate severe traffic congestion. DSCC Administrator, Freedom Fighter Abdus Salam, revealed these structural reform plans during a recent interaction with the national news agency BSS at the Nagar Bhaban headquarters.
Detailing the zone-based framework, DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam explained: "Dhaka city will be divided into several designated zones, and rickshaws operating within a specific area will be restricted to that zone alone. To prevent rickshaws from moving into neighboring areas and causing gridlocks, we will enforce necessary route and day-based operational restrictions. We must identify the root cause of the rickshaw crisis and resolve it systematically. This is our problem, and the City Corporation must take full ownership of solving it."
The Administrator pointed out that battery-powered rickshaws currently operate chaotically across main thoroughfares, often driving against traffic and disregarding basic road regulations, thereby exacerbating urban congestion. He highlighted that a fresh influx of climate migrants, river-erosion victims, and job seekers from rural areas has put immense pressure on urban infrastructure, with many taking up unregistered rickshaw pulling or street vending. He noted that battery-powered rickshaws entering Dhaka after August 5 must be brought under strict mandatory licensing and registration frameworks. Under the new guidelines, rickshaws from Demra will not be permitted near New Market, and vehicles from Keraniganj or the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) area will be barred from indiscriminately crossing boundaries into DSCC territory. Legislative drafts governing these transport restrictions are currently being prepared in coordination with the relevant ministries. In parallel, DSCC is working to streamline bus operations by ending arbitrary roadside drop-offs and designating fixed passenger bays, with expected improvements taking effect in the coming months.
Concurrently, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam confirmed that a unified national policy for managing e-rickshaws is being formulated under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 and the amended Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026. State Minister Mir Shahe Alam stated: "Formulating and executing this policy will successfully control city traffic, bring discipline to vehicular movement, and enhance road safety. Furthermore, implementing a systematic licensing and registration procedure through local government bodies will generate significant revenue for the state exchequer." He added that steps are underway to amend existing rules to establish a synchronized licensing authority across City Corporations, Pourashavas, Upazilas, and Union Parishads.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/metro/1f197963-964e-6c40-871c-6aab9c4da5e6