The Rickshaw, Battery Rickshaw-Van & Easybike Sangram Parishad organized a protest rally in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, placing a 9-point proposal to amend the government's newly issued "City Corporation Area Three-Wheeler Low-Speed Battery-Operated Rickshaw (E-Rickshaw) Movement Rules, 2026".
Following the rally, the organization's Dhaka City unit prepared to submit a formal memorandum to the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. Leaders welcomed the government's legal framework—issued on October 29 following landmark Supreme Court Appellate Division rulings—but noted several negative aspects and ambiguities that could be weaponized to evict drivers.
Key demands include granting at least a 2-year transition timeframe for existing battery rickshaws to adapt to BUET-approved standard structures, reducing registration fees, directly involving the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in driver licensing, and designating highway side-lanes through multi-stakeholder consultations.
9-Point E-Rickshaw Rules Proposal Summary
- 2-Year Transition Period: Grant at least two years to convert existing e-rickshaws to BUET-certified standard structures; forbid using rules as eviction tools.
- Transparent Licensing: Ensure real drivers and owners receive licenses transparently without harassment.
- BRTA Integration: Include official BRTA procedures for driver licensing, including learner and license forms.
Read nextPrime Minister Tarique Rahman Holds Bilateral Meeting With Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev- Reduced Fee Structure: Set one-time registration at Tk 8,000 (Tk 4,000 annual renewal) for 2-seaters, and Tk 10,000 (Tk 5,000 renewal) for 4-seaters.
- Stakeholder Consultation: Consult driver representatives when capping local e-rickshaw numbers.
- Highway Side-Lanes: Build dedicated side-lanes along highways and finalize allowable routes with stakeholder input.
- Practical Infrastructure: Remove mandatory solar charging requirements and costly compulsory insurance; set up charging stations at key nodes.
- Anti-Monopoly Production: Involve BRTA to allow local manufacturers to build approved designs and prevent syndicate monopolies.
- Jurisdictional Clarity: Clarify how the rules apply to municipalities and upazilas outside city corporation boundaries.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
