রবিবার, ০১ নভেম্বর ২০২৬, ০৭:১০ অপরাহ্ন
DHAKA, Nov 01, 2026 (BSS) – Registration of low speed battery-powered three-wheeled rickshaw will begin in 13 city corporations from Monday, said State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam.
“The two Dhaka city corporations would be divided into eight zones to regulate the movement of these rickshaws. The rickshaws will have eight different colours based on their respective zones to prevent vehicles from operating from one zone to other,” he told a press conference at the Secretariat today.
The press conference was convened to inform about the newly formulated three-Wheeled Low-Speed Battery-Operated Rickshaw (E-Rickshaw) Movement Rules, 2026 in city corporation areas.
Alam said the number of rickshaws allowed in each zone will be determined through discussions between the traffic department and the city corporations.
One-time registration fee for an e-rickshaw with two-passenger carrying capacity is Tk 8,000 and annual renewal fee is Tk 4,000 while the one-time registration fee for four-seater is Tk 10,000 and annual renewal fee Tk 5,000.
A person holding a national identity card will be allowed to register a maximum of five e-rickshaws, he added.
The state minister, however, did not specify a deadline for completing the e-rickshaw registration process.
He said he will meet journalists again one month after the registration process begins to share its progress. At that time, he will disclose the number of registered rickshaws and the measures taken to control illegal e-rickshaws.
Stating that a speedometer must be installed in every e-rickshaw, Mir Shahe Alam said the permitted maximum speed of each vehicle would not exceed 25 kilometres per hour. However, the maximum speed limit would be 15 kilometres per hour near schools, hospitals, religious places of worship and crowded areas.
He said the economic lifespan of each e-rickshaw would be 12 years from the date of registration. Existing e-rickshaws would not be banned immediately, and there was no reason for owners to panic. Both legal and illegal rickshaws will be allowed to operate for the time being. Registration will be provided gradually, while illegal e-rickshaws will be removed in phases.
The state minister said driving licences would not be mandatory for e-rickshaw drivers for now. A separate notification will be issued on the matter once the registration process makes some progress. Drivers will gradually be brought under the driving licence system.
Warning of legal action against the illegal use of electricity for charging e-rickshaws, Mir Shahe Alam said their batteries must be charged at designated charging stations. Approval will be given to establish charging stations at specific locations. Institutions capable of arranging solar-powered charging facilities for rickshaws will be given priority. Magistrates of the city corporations will regularly monitor these activities.
The state minister said existing vehicles will have to be modified in accordance with the design approved by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) before registration. Only after the modifications the vehicles will be registered.
He said the existing e-rickshaws will have to be modified according to the approved design, while manufacturers will also have to follow the approved design when producing the vehicles.
The state minister said battery-operated rickshaws have long been operating in different cities across the country without legal registration. A legal basis for e-rickshaw registration was established through amendments to the City Corporation Act, 2009. The new rules were formulated under Section 120 of the Act.
