Battery-run rickshaws now Dhaka's deadliest road hazard after Eid surge

Battery-run rickshaws are now linked to a growing number of road accidents in Dhaka. Over the past year and a half, these three-wheelers have flooded the city's streets, leading to a sharp rise in crashes. New data shows they caused nearly one in five accident deaths during the recent Eid holiday alone. The surge in battery-run rickshaws began in late 2024. By the end of that year, Dhaka had officially registered 1,247 of these vehicles. But accidents involving them spiked dramatically in March 2025, coinciding with their rapid spread across the capital.

During the Eid holiday, the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) treated 1,621 road crash victims. Of these, 315—almost one in five—were hurt in battery-run rickshaw accidents. This made them the leading cause of injuries, ahead of motorcycles, which accounted for 178 cases. The trend mirrors broader statistics. In 2023, these vehicles caused 20.52% of road accident deaths. The figure rose slightly to 21.01% in 2024 and stood at 19.75% by August 2025. Many victims required urgent care: 431 were admitted to hospital, while 416 needed emergency surgery. Most others received basic treatment before being discharged. The data highlights how quickly battery-run rickshaws have become a major safety concern on Dhaka's roads.

The rise of battery-run rickshaws has brought a clear shift in road accident patterns. They now account for the highest share of injuries during peak travel periods. With their numbers still growing, authorities face mounting pressure to address the safety risks they pose.