E-rickshaws to be introduced in Uttara, Dhanmondi, Paltan areas in August

The Dhaka North and South city corporations are set to introduce battery-operated e-rickshaws, initially developed by the experts from BUET, in three areas of the capital – Uttara, Dhanmondi, and Paltan – from August this year.

The initiative aims to modernise urban transport and reduce environmental impact, said Dhaka North Administrator Mohammad Azaz today (28 June) at the inauguration of a driver training programme for three-wheeled low-speed e-rickshaws at the city corporation auditorium. 

"There is no plan to remove the current rickshaws immediately. New e-rickshaws will operate alongside those rickshaws. Old rickshaws will be phased out gradually," he said, adding that the service would be expanded to other parts of the city after the initial launch.

Speaking as the chief guest of the event, Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, said, "Dhaka's rickshaw problem is a complex issue. The current situation is the result of a long collective effort."

"Since hand-to-hand exchange of licences often involves financial transactions, the entire process will be made online. No one will be allowed on the road without a valid licence. Specific zones will be designated, and only a fixed number of rickshaws will be allowed to operate within them," he said.

He added, "Our rickshaw-puller brothers were among the key partners in the July mass uprising. When we bring them under the licensing system through registration and training, no one will have the opportunity to call them illegal anymore. They will be able to operate with proper civic dignity."

The training programme, conducted under the Local Government Division with support from BRAC, aims to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the new vehicles. Initially, master trainers will be prepared to train drivers at the field level. 

On day one, participants learned the content and presentation methods; on day two, they will practice delivering the training; on day three, they will study the technical aspects and maintenance of rickshaws.

A total of 300 master trainers have been selected—200 from the Department of Youth Development and the Students Against Discrimination platform, and 100 from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. 

In the first phase, 200 trainers will be taught at 10 training centres under the Dhaka North and South City Corporations, with the remaining 100 trained by July next year. These trainers will then conduct driver training sessions in the field.

A standard model design and technical specification for e-rickshaws has been approved and shared with all city corporations. According to BUET's design, the maximum speed is set at 30km per hour, and they can only operate in neighbourhoods and alleys.

A formal policy titled Three-Wheeled Low-Speed Battery-Operated Rickshaw (e-rickshaw) Operation Regulations, 2025, has been finalised. Under this policy, e-rickshaws can only run on roads designated by the city corporations and the traffic police. They are prohibited from highways, elevated expressways, dedicated bus routes, and footpaths. 

Additional rules include mandatory use of the left lane, no mobile phone use while driving, a two-passenger limit, no excess loads, no illegal overtaking or lane changes, and a ban on horns above 40 decibels.