Battery-driven rickshaw

The High Court has recently ordered the withdrawal of indigenous three-wheelers, locally known as Nasiman, Kariman or Bhatbhati, from highways in 10 districts of south-western region. It was a long-standing demand of the people in the area.

Of late, battery-driven three-wheelers, locally known as rickshaw, are also running in the busy streets of the capital city ignoring motor vehicle law. Usually the people choose the vehicle when they are in a hurry. The battery-driven rickshaw looks quite identical to traditional rickshaws in the country. Consequently, the passers-by as well as the drivers of motor vehicles can not guess whether the rickshaw is battery-driven or manually driven. It causes accidents.

I would urge the authority concerned to order such three-wheelers off the road to minimise the threat to the city- dwellers.

Md Hafizur Rahman

Lalmatia, Dhaka