Battery-run Rickshaws: Danger lurks in the alleys

Shahida Quader, a resident of Khilgaon area, is waiting for an operation on her ankle, as it didn't heal after two months of treatment.

She had been injured while standing near a footpath at the Khilgaon crossing, as a speeding battery-run rickshaw ran over her right leg. 

"The rickshaw-driver lost control of the vehicle as he was driving it at an unnecessarily high speed inside the locality," said Shahida.

On August 24, Mehjabin Islam Bhuiyan Maria, a second-grader of Jurain Ashraf Master High School, died and another child was injured after a battery-run rickshaw hit them on their way to school.

"The accident happened around 7:30am in front of the school. The rickshaw was speeding. Seeing a speed-breaker, the driver braked hard suddenly, causing the vehicle to flip over and land on the two schoolgirls crossing the road," Proloy Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge of Kadamtali Police Station, told The Daily Star.

Even though such vehicles are banned in the capital, they are still moving in the alleys at full speed.

Last year, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh announced to take legal action against such vehicles.

However, the situation did not improve since then, rather the number of battery-run vehicles has increased.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, on August 3, made a similar announcement.

Even the High Court on March 8, 2015 banned such vehicles across the country, as they have no proper licence.

However, these unauthorised vehicles continue to ply the capital's streets.

According to sources, crores of taka circulate in this sector, as many ruling-party members and local influential people are behind running these vehicles.

They take Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 from each battery-rickshaw owner monthly and provide them with a card to paste on their three-wheelers. The card works as permission, alleged many owners.

Visiting DSCC areas including Kamrangirchar, Lalbagh, Islambagh, Gendaria, Demra and Konapara, this correspondent saw such three-wheelers plying here and there. Drivers said it is not too difficult to evade authorities.

"Whenever we see the cops, we flee or divert our direction. If we get caught, they charge us a fee of Tk 1,000 to 1,200," said a battery-rickshaw driver, wishing anonymity.

"We have to give Tk 1,200 to operate a battery-rickshaw every month to a syndicate that collects this money and gives a card," said Md Imon, a rickshaw owner of Gendaria.

Imon said 30 percent of manual rickshaws in their garage were converted to battery-rickshaws this year, as it can move fast and is easier to drive.

Md Babu Miah, owner of a battery-rickshaw, said it takes Tk 60,000 to 65,000 to make one.

Kazi Md Shifun Newaz, assistant professor of Accident Research Institute at Buet, said there is a huge safety concern centring the battery-powered thee-wheelers, as they move fast but do not have the structure to control such a high speed.

He said these vehicles also confuse drivers, as they move like regular rickshaws but are much quicker. They also waste electricity, as their batteries are recharged via illegal electric lines.

Newaz said the drivers are also not trained properly.

According to the institute's statistics, every year, seven to eight percent of accidents occur due to such vehicles across the country.

Contacted, chief executive officer of DSCC Farid Ahmed said their drive against battery-rickshaws is ongoing.

"We have only two executive magistrates in this regard. However, it is also one of the main responsibilities of the law enforcement agencies to make sure these vehicles stay off the road," he said.

A high official of police's traffic division said political commitment is essential to control the battery-run three-wheelers, and ward councillors can play a vital role.

If councillor remains aware and takes necessary steps considering the risk factors, then these vehicles cannot operate, he said.

It is not possible to drive these three-wheelers without anyone's patronage of anyone, he mentioned.

Asked about a section of police officers involved with patronising this practice, he said that may be possible, and if they stop doing so, then this problem would go away.

Contacted, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said when police conduct drives these three-wheelers flee or stay hidden. "As soon as we leave, they start plying the streets again."

A strong message has been given to the law enforcers to remain vigilant in this regard, he added.

Shafiqul said they are also working to build awareness among rickshaw-pullers to avoid using the battery-run vehicles due to the risks involved.