Battery-powered rickshaws have been deemed unsafe from the moment they were on the streets. As things currently stand, with millions of battery-powered vehicles operating nationwide, what began as an affordable mobility option has unfortunately metastasized into a crisis of lawlessness and power theft. We understand that banning these vehicles outright was never the solution, and attempts to do so in the past have predictably failed. However, while there are countless individuals who rely on them for livelihoods and affordable transport, the solution has to be regulation. For too long have we let battery-powered vehicles operate unchecked - yet again we are trading short-term convenience for long-term catastrophe.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 19, 2026 07:51 UTC