Dhaka’s battery-powered rickshaw chaos exposes regulatory failures

Dhaka’s streets are increasingly clogged by millions of unregulated battery-run rickshaws. Many operate without proper registration, safety checks, or trained drivers. Authorities have struggled to enforce rules, leaving roads chaotic and unsafe for all users.

Battery-run rickshaws now dominate Dhaka’s transport scene, filling both narrow lanes and busy highways. Their numbers have surged nationwide, with a heavy concentration in the capital. Yet most lack formal registration, route permits, or compliance with safety standards.

The Dhaka North and South City Corporations (DNCC and DSCC) oversee licensing and routes, while the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) handles vehicle registration and driver training. Reports from 2025 show these bodies have failed to enforce regulations effectively. Corruption, underfunding, and sheer volume have overwhelmed their efforts. Legal gaps further complicate control. Motor vehicle laws do not clearly recognise battery-run rickshaws, allowing manufacturers to produce vehicles with questionable mechanical standards. Attempts to ban them from major roads have faced fierce resistance from drivers and owners, stalling progress. Authorities have launched small-scale pilot programs for ‘eco-friendly’ electric rickshaws, but these lack clear plans for wider implementation. Meanwhile, the unchecked growth of rickshaws worsens congestion, as they compete with buses, cars, and motorcycles for limited road space. Accident risks have risen as a result. Weak policies and stalled guidelines have left regulation largely symbolic. Draft rules often languish in approval processes, with little real-world impact. Without stricter enforcement, the disorder persists, threatening public safety and urban mobility.

To restore order, authorities must enforce vehicle registration, technical standards, and driver training. Route restrictions would also help manage the flood of rickshaws. Without firm and sustained action, Dhaka’s traffic chaos and safety risks will only deepen.