Anisul Islam Noor :
The government is being deprived revenues of Tk 3 crore per day from 6.20 lakh battery-run easy bike across the country.
Though a large number of bikes ply on roads and highways, neither the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) nor the City Corporations have control on them. Easy bike was first seen in the country in 2008.
A Power division official said, re-charging of an easy bike on an average requires five units of electricity. In total, 31 thousand units of electricity are used each day. But the government does not receive revenues, as there are no meters to keep the account. The driver of every easy bike pays Tk65 per day for re-charging. Many re-charging stations have been set up illegally for the purpose, the official said. The power division is unable to take action in absence of law, the official said. Abdur Razzaq, an importer of easy bikes told The New Nation that the bikes were first introduced in the country in 2008. Now Bangladesh has become a speedy growing market of battery-run bikes and about 21 thousand such bikes are plying in Dhaka city.
Their number was 3000 in the end of 2008.
Insur Ali, a member of Dhaka City Rickshaw Van Owner Sangram Parishad said, “We have given memorandum to the prime minister and the home minister to stop easy on roads and highways”. We are waiting for an action. Now its number crossed over 6 lakh.
It is alleged, that the bike owners pay to the members of the law enforcement, BRTA and Dhaka City Corporation. A Police official rejected the accusation. A BRTA official wishing not to be named said, BRTA control only engine run bikes and vehicles. There is nothing to do with such battery run bikes. Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq e Elahi said, “We are not in favour of banning easy bikes. The government has plan to modernize such bikes by using solar battery,” The government will set up solar energy run solar station and convert the battery in solar power supporting as a pilot projects, he said.
