Rickshaw pullers give 5 days to ban battery-run rickshaws

Several hundred rickshaw pullers blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka today (26 August), staging a sit-in to demand a ban on battery-run rickshaws. They claim that battery-run rickshaws create unfair competition and chaos on the roads.

The protest, which began in the morning and continued until noon, resulted in an ultimatum to the government. The drivers demanded a ban on battery-powered rickshaws within five days.

Similar pedal rickshaw rallies were also held in Rampura, Mohammadpur, and Mirpur.

Following the rally at Shahbagh, approximately fifty battery-powered rickshaw drivers demonstrated with their vehicles, chanting slogans in support of their continued operation.

Md Momin Ali, general secretary of the Dhaka City Corporation Rickshaw Owners' Unity, said, "We have submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser to the interim government with our seven-point demand, including the ban of battery-powered rickshaws. If our demands are not met by 31 August, we will initiate a larger movement."

Momin Ali noted that there are 243,000 licensed pedal rickshaws in Dhaka, though the total number, including unlicensed ones, is around 5 lakh. He warned of a potential city-wide shutdown if their demands are ignored.

The protesters also called for new rickshaw licenses to be issued and existing ones to be renewed by the Dhaka North City Corporation, as is done in the Dhaka South. Additionally, they demanded free medical treatment on Fridays for sick rickshaw pullers.

Pedal rickshaw pullers argue that battery-powered rickshaws have drastically reduced their earnings.

Mohammad Dulal, a rickshaw puller, said, "We pay Tk130 in rent and need at least Tk300 on food and other daily expenses. Before the battery-powered rickshaws were on the main roads, I earned Tk600-700 a day. Now, I struggle to make even Tk300."day

Another protester, on his way to Shahbagh from Banglamotor, said, "We do not even earn Tk200 a day. After paying the rickshaw fee and buying food for our families, there is hardly anything left for other expenses."

Pedal rickshaw pullers further argued that battery-powered rickshaws, which operate at lower fares, make it difficult for them to find passengers. They also raised concerns about the safety of battery-powered rickshaws, which they claim are prone to accidents due to their high speed.

During the protest, some pedal rickshaw pullers stopped battery-run rickshaws on the roads in Mogbazar, Eskaton, Shahbagh, and Dhaka University's TSC areas. However, rickshaws driven by people with disabilities were allowed to pass.

At around 1pm today, tensions escalated when pedal rickshaw pullers in Shahbagh disconnected the motor's wiring from a battery-powered rickshaw.

The driver, Sayeed, said, "I was driving this rickshaw even yesterday. If the government bans it now, I will stop. I rent the rickshaw from the owner and drive it."

Later in the day, around 2pm, a group of about 50 battery-powered rickshaw drivers drove through Shahbagh towards Doyel Square, chanting slogans in support of their vehicles. However, they did not stage a sit-in.

Mohammad Rubel, a battery-powered rickshaw driver, expressed frustration over the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

"I have been driving this rickshaw for eight years. We used to operate in alleys during the day and on main roads after 8pm. But since May, we have been allowed on main roads during the day. If these rickshaws are banned, the owners and importers should be held accountable, not us."

A field visit from 3pm to the evening in areas like Dhaka University, Shahbagh, Banglamotor, and Eskaton revealed that battery-powered rickshaws were operating freely, with no further interference from pedal rickshaw pullers.

Earlier, on 15 May, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Advisory Council decided to ban battery-powered rickshaws in Dhaka. However, on 20 May, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allowed their operation on city roads following protests by battery-rickshaw drivers.