Battery-run auto rickshaws have become a vital transport in the rural areas of Bangladesh. They can also be found in the alleys of Dhaka city. However, unregulated use of these vehicles is often responsible for road accidents. Some autorickshaw drivers are teenagers and almost none of them have a driving license. They do not know traffic rules. At times, they engage in a race with fellow drivers to overtake each other. Although these vehicles are banned on the highways and the city's main roads, they often flout the ban. As a result, they fall prey to tragic road crashes.
The roads and transport authorities, in my view, should take steps to regulate these vehicles under the Motor Vehicle Act for the safety of the passengers.
Abu Elias Linkon,
Banasree, Dhaka,
lightening_sparkle@yahoo.com