Sunday, 17 August, 2025
The Interim Government is set to introduce a tougher policy to regulate the widespread and often hazardous use of unregistered battery-operated three-wheelers—commonly known as electric auto-rickshaws or easy bikes—across the country, including the capital Dhaka.
The unchecked movement of these vehicles has caused significant disruption on city roads and highways, worsening traffic congestion and raising the risk of accidents. Previous government attempts to remove them from major roads in Dhaka were unsuccessful, largely due to protests by drivers and owners.
While there is no exact figure, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) estimates there are over 6 million battery-run rickshaws nationwide, with 1 to 1.2 million operating in Dhaka alone.
To restore order, the Road Transport and Highways Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has drafted the ‘Electric Three-Wheeler Management Policy 2025’.
Under the draft policy, all battery-operated three-wheelers must be registered with the BRTA, and drivers will be required to hold valid driving licences. The vehicles will be confined to designated routes outside national highways, with specific speed limits set separately for medium- and low-speed electric three-wheelers.
A passenger and goods transport committee, established under the Road Transport Act, will decide the permitted number of vehicles operating in any given area.
Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Ehsanul Haque told UNB that the uncontrolled growth of unfit battery-run rickshaws has seriously disrupted traffic systems nationwide. He added that the draft policy is now under review following feedback from stakeholders, marking an important step towards bringing these vehicles under proper regulation.
“We hope the policy will be approved very soon. Once implemented, it will end the ongoing disorder caused by unregulated electric rickshaws,” he added.
As per the draft, one person can own a maximum of three medium-speed and five low-speed rickshaws.
All rickshaws must be transformed into safe models within a year, according to the draft.
It says medium-speed rickshaws will be limited to a maximum speed of 50 km/h, and low-speed rickshaws to 30 km/h.
The vehicles must be constructed following BRTA-approved designs and only parts and components approved by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will be allowed.
All components such as motors, controllers, gearboxes, axles, wheels, brakes, headlights, shock absorbers, batteries and chargers must be BSTI-approved and manufacturers and assemblers must be registered with BIDA (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority).
All imported or locally assembled electric three-wheelers and parts must have BRTA approval and only new vehicles and new parts (BSTI-approved) can be imported.
Charging stations must comply with the 2021 guidelines issued by the Power Division.
BRTA will set fares for these vehicles.
Manufacturers must be listed by BRTA and cannot operate without being listed.
The vehicle must display the owner and driver's contact numbers visibly for passengers.
BRTA will arrange district-level training for drivers in consultation with local transport committees.
According to the draft, electric three-wheelers will not be allowed on national highways except in service lanes.
These will be allowed to operate in designated areas, including city corporations, ‘A’ category municipalities, district, upazila and union-level local roads.
Only local passengers and goods transport committees will determine the number and route allocations in these areas.
On the matter of penalties, the draft clearly states that violations will be addressed as per the Road Transport Act 2018, and necessary legal action will be taken against offenders.
Regarding the timeline, all current unsafe low-speed vehicles must be converted to safe models within one year as per the Electric Motor Vehicle Registration and Operation Policy 2023.
After this deadline, unapproved vehicles will be subject to legal action.
The draft also stressed the need for a complete phase-out of unauthorised locally made vehicles such as diesel and petrol-engine vehicles used in agriculture and waterways.
Local transport committees are to replace them with approved alternatives.
Comments
The Interim Government is set to introduce a tougher policy to regulate the widespread and often hazardous use of unregistered battery-operated three-wheelers—commonly known as electric auto-rickshaws or easy bikes—across the country, including the capital Dhaka.
The unchecked movement of these vehicles has caused significant disruption on city roads and highways, worsening traffic congestion and raising the risk of accidents. Previous government attempts to remove them from major roads in Dhaka were unsuccessful, largely due to protests by drivers and owners.
While there is no exact figure, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) estimates there are over 6 million battery-run rickshaws nationwide, with 1 to 1.2 million operating in Dhaka alone.
To restore order, the Road Transport and Highways Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has drafted the ‘Electric Three-Wheeler Management Policy 2025’.
Under the draft policy, all battery-operated three-wheelers must be registered with the BRTA, and drivers will be required to hold valid driving licences. The vehicles will be confined to designated routes outside national highways, with specific speed limits set separately for medium- and low-speed electric three-wheelers.
A passenger and goods transport committee, established under the Road Transport Act, will decide the permitted number of vehicles operating in any given area.
Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Ehsanul Haque told UNB that the uncontrolled growth of unfit battery-run rickshaws has seriously disrupted traffic systems nationwide. He added that the draft policy is now under review following feedback from stakeholders, marking an important step towards bringing these vehicles under proper regulation.
“We hope the policy will be approved very soon. Once implemented, it will end the ongoing disorder caused by unregulated electric rickshaws,” he added.
As per the draft, one person can own a maximum of three medium-speed and five low-speed rickshaws.
All rickshaws must be transformed into safe models within a year, according to the draft.
It says medium-speed rickshaws will be limited to a maximum speed of 50 km/h, and low-speed rickshaws to 30 km/h.
The vehicles must be constructed following BRTA-approved designs and only parts and components approved by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will be allowed.
All components such as motors, controllers, gearboxes, axles, wheels, brakes, headlights, shock absorbers, batteries and chargers must be BSTI-approved and manufacturers and assemblers must be registered with BIDA (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority).
All imported or locally assembled electric three-wheelers and parts must have BRTA approval and only new vehicles and new parts (BSTI-approved) can be imported.
Charging stations must comply with the 2021 guidelines issued by the Power Division.
BRTA will set fares for these vehicles.
Manufacturers must be listed by BRTA and cannot operate without being listed.
The vehicle must display the owner and driver's contact numbers visibly for passengers.
BRTA will arrange district-level training for drivers in consultation with local transport committees.
According to the draft, electric three-wheelers will not be allowed on national highways except in service lanes.
These will be allowed to operate in designated areas, including city corporations, ‘A’ category municipalities, district, upazila and union-level local roads.
Only local passengers and goods transport committees will determine the number and route allocations in these areas.
On the matter of penalties, the draft clearly states that violations will be addressed as per the Road Transport Act 2018, and necessary legal action will be taken against offenders.
Regarding the timeline, all current unsafe low-speed vehicles must be converted to safe models within one year as per the Electric Motor Vehicle Registration and Operation Policy 2023.
After this deadline, unapproved vehicles will be subject to legal action.
The draft also stressed the need for a complete phase-out of unauthorised locally made vehicles such as diesel and petrol-engine vehicles used in agriculture and waterways.
Local transport committees are to replace them with approved alternatives.
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