Battery-run rickshaws to be banned in Dhaka city
It also decided to adopt a "no helmet, no fuel" approach for motorcycle riders across the country
The Advisory Council of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has decided to ban battery-run rickshaws on Dhaka city roads and adopt a "no helmet, no fuel" approach for motorcycle riders across the country.
In a meeting held at the BRTA Bhaban in the capital today (15 May), the council also decided that vehicles without fitness – those that have expired their economic lifetime – will be scrapped.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, who chaired the meeting, briefed journalists about the decisions.
He said accidents are increasing due to motorcycles and battery-run easy-bikes across the country, and the casualty rate is higher for these vehicles. "No battery-run three-wheeler will run in Dhaka city. We had earlier banned this on 22 highways."
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"Motorcycles are under control in Dhaka city. Now, almost everyone wears a helmet. But a policy needs to be adopted outside Dhaka: No helmet, no fuel"
This time, he said, action should be taken so that these three-wheelers cannot run on the city roads.
"Motorcycles are under control in Dhaka city. Now, almost everyone wears a helmet. But a policy needs to be adopted outside Dhaka: 'No helmet, no fuel'. It must be enforced."
Everyone must have a helmet; otherwise, fuel won't be sold to them, said the minister, adding, "Besides, not more than two people can ride on bikes across the country."
He hoped that by implementing the newly formed speed policy, accidents would decrease.
Regarding other decisions, the minister said, "We also agreed to a proposal to scrap vehicles without fitness on the roads."
On controlling sound pollution, he said, "Horns are also a problem; they need to be controlled, and except for emergency vehicles, hooters will not be allowed in the city."
The minister pointed out that due to the economic crisis in the country, no new projects will be undertaken until the ongoing ones are completed, and no more manpower will be appointed in BRTA right now.
"We received a Tk209 crore fund from the World Bank under the road safety project yesterday (Tuesday). We consider it crucial for road safety."
The minister directed the Roads and Highway Division secretary, who was also present in the meeting, to implement these decisions.
Also in the meeting, the Dhaka mayors spoke about the ban on auto-rickshaws in the city.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh pointed out that it is terrible when auto-rickshaw drivers drive at reckless speeds. What is even more concerning is that many physically challenged people, including some with low vision, are also driving auto-rickshaws in the city, making it riskier.
Dhaka North Mayor Md Atiqul Islam emphasised that a decision needs to be made that no battery-run auto-rickshaws will operate in Dhaka as they are extremely risky.
