DeskReport
A drive has been launched against illegal battery-powered rickshaws on the main roads of Dhaka. Several rickshaws were crushed by cranes during the drive on Tuesday (May 13). However, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said that the drivers of the three rickshaws that were crushed will be compensated.
He made the announcement in a Facebook post on Tuesday night.
In the post, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said, “The three rickshaws whose rickshaws were broken today (Tuesday) are being compensated. The three rickshaws were broken because they did not come to the main road. We are taking initiatives to provide alternative income to the families.”
Earlier, during a joint operation by Dhaka Metropolitan Police and DNCC against illegal battery-powered rickshaws in the capital’s Asad Gate area, the DNCC administrator said, “The study showed that 20 percent of accidents are caused by these battery-powered rickshaws. Women and children in the city are the most affected. These are not built keeping in mind any policy or the safety of passengers. It is often seen that they run over pedestrians, and accidents often occur due to uncontrolled speeding. The government is taking measures to prevent accidents and restore order in public transport on the roads. With the help of BUET, a design of safe battery-powered rickshaws has already been prepared and permission has been given to some companies to manufacture them, said the DNCC administrator.
The DNCC administrator also said that DNCC will arrange training for rickshaw drivers within this month. After the training, only those who pass will get a valid license and will be able to drive rickshaws made by an approved company in specific areas of the city. Even a legal rickshaw from one area will not be able to go to another area. The fare will also be fixed to reduce passenger suffering.
The DNCC administrator said that a rickshaw license will be given for one national identity card. The ongoing trade in rickshaws will be stopped. More than 100 battery-powered rickshaws plying on the main road were seized in today’s drive jointly conducted by Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka North City Corporation.
