Despite a recent High Court ban on plying of battery-run rickshaws across the country, the vehicles are running on Chittagong city roads with ease.
The HC in an order on Thursday banned the vehicles from running on roads as they do not have licences.
However, visiting different areas of the port city yesterday, The Daily Star found a large number of battery-run rickshaws plying the roads freely, even in the presence of on-duty traffic officers.
Abdul Hannan, driver of a battery-run rickshaw, said he did not know about the ban, while another driver, Torab Ali, said he was aware of the HC order and that leaders of their association would appeal against the order.
Both the drivers said traffic officers did not stop them while they were driving the vehicles.
Admitting police inaction, Arefin Jewel, additional deputy commissioner (traffic) of  Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), said they have not started taking any measures against the battery-run rickshaw.
“We are waiting for the copy of the High Court order. Once we get the copy, we will start taking action against the unauthorised rickshaws,” he said.
According to sources, there are around 50,000 unlicenced battery-run rickshaws plying across Chittagong city now, which is a very high number compared to 300 in 2012.
These rickshaws also tend to get in more accidents than the paddle-run rickshaws as the drivers of motorised rickshaws have more speed but less control of their vehicles.           
Subrata Das, a resident of Kapasgola area, was injured recently when he fell off a motorised rickshaw. The rickshaw was going too fast and could not stop in time to avoid a road divider.
Another resident, Jewel Shil, was injured similarly in Chittagong College Road area.
Initially in 2012, people were glad when the motorised rickshaws began plying the city streets as commuters could reach their destinations faster than using paddle-run rickshaws, and at a cheaper rate than CNG-run auto-rickshaws.
However, the number of these vehicles increased rapidly adding to the traffic congestion. Moreover, the battery-run rickshaws cause more accidents than the traditional paddle-run rickshaws.