THE plying of battery-run rickshaws on Roads and Highways and also in local towns and major cities is putting lives of users and pedestrians at risks often injuring them in fatal accidents on roadsides. They are basically operating illegally under the cover of influential ruling party men or its front organizations and the practice continues despite the directive of the country’s apex court that they must cease to operate for passengers’ safety. A news report in a national daily highlighted the issue on Friday calling attention of the authorities concerned to ban them on Roads and Highways.
The issue has already become complex in view of the growing demand of people to ride in battery-run rickshaws because they are cheaper than fuel run vehicles and comfortable. They have already occupied a major position in local transportation business replacing manual rickshaws in one-hand and auto-rickshaws on the other. So their withdrawal appears to be quite difficult but they remain highly vulnerable to accident because of their high speed and light body that often turn them turtle on the roads. In experts opinion it is dangerous to passengers’ safety and can’t be acceptable in local transport.
As it appears battery-run rickshaws have to be charged eight hours a day and consumes 7-8 units of electricity and most operators charge their batteries with metal hocks illegally linked to power supply lines. It is outright electricity pilferage and since powerful people own them, police or local employees of Bangladesh Power Development Board are helpless to stop the illegal practice. Some also charge the batteries from domestic electricity lines mixing commercial use with low cost domestic use.
It is an entirely illegal business banned under Motor Vehicle Ordinance-1983. The government had also imposed a fresh ban on it forcing thousands of battery-run rickshaws in 2012 out of the streets. But it did not work and rather the number only surged in recent years when local bodies issued licenses to run them on streets on political pressure of ruling party men ignoring prohibitive laws. Many use the same number plate now on several auto-rickshaws escaping law enforcers’ eyes. Congested show rooms in the city and district towns only indicate how fast they are replacing other vehicles in the roads ignoring concern for passengers’ safety. They earn handsome income daily and that is what is absolutely dominating the scene.
In our view the government should take stern action to force withdrawal of battery-run-rickshaws from the road to save people from this menace as they trigger road accident frequently. Safety to passengers’ life must come first.
As it appears battery-run rickshaws have to be charged eight hours a day and consumes 7-8 units of electricity and most operators charge their batteries with metal hocks illegally linked to power supply lines. It is outright electricity pilferage and since powerful people own them, police or local employees of Bangladesh Power Development Board are helpless to stop the illegal practice. Some also charge the batteries from domestic electricity lines mixing commercial use with low cost domestic use.
It is an entirely illegal business banned under Motor Vehicle Ordinance-1983. The government had also imposed a fresh ban on it forcing thousands of battery-run rickshaws in 2012 out of the streets. But it did not work and rather the number only surged in recent years when local bodies issued licenses to run them on streets on political pressure of ruling party men ignoring prohibitive laws. Many use the same number plate now on several auto-rickshaws escaping law enforcers’ eyes. Congested show rooms in the city and district towns only indicate how fast they are replacing other vehicles in the roads ignoring concern for passengers’ safety. They earn handsome income daily and that is what is absolutely dominating the scene.
In our view the government should take stern action to force withdrawal of battery-run-rickshaws from the road to save people from this menace as they trigger road accident frequently. Safety to passengers’ life must come first.
