'Hallow Mama, will you go to Banglamotor?' Such was the posture of asking a pedal rickshaw puller in front of a hospital in Panthapath near Green Road. The driver answered the call. He asked for the fare of Tk. 70. But just then a battery operated rickshaw stopped. Shiny color, neat comfortable seat. I saw and swallowed. I mean, I swallowed my words to stop the conversation with the pedal rickshaw driver.
Afternoon is hot. Dark clouds have accumulated in the autumn sky. A couple of drops of rain are also falling. Looking at the sky, I quickly turned my eyes towards the pedal rickshaw driver. The same question to the battery powered rickshaw driver is ' will you go to Banglamotor?'
This time it's not Mama anymore, I directly address you.
To get consent, the question - 'How much fare?' Tk. 50. Then I pressed 'Pakshmiraj'. Green road signal from BRB Hospital in the blink of an eye at the flick of a switch. However, the pedal rickshaw driver had already reached there. Looking with big eyes. I turned my head away with a slight sense of guilt.
After leaving the signal, my battery auto-rickshaw became the king of the road. There is no high-low judgment. Slowly running through the middle of the road. Very difficult. I am a house-burning cow who is repeatedly involved in road accidents. I was a little scared. But I didn't stop. On the contrary, I said, 'Mama, you are driving so fast, it's a full motor vehicle!' He lightly braked and his answer was 'It's no less than a private car!'
Why not, these rickshaws have really become the ‘king of the road’ with the speed of battery power. Drivers don't care about any cars. Little care to bus, private car or any other high speed vehicle. This rickshaw runs in the middle of the road which is really scary.
The popularity of these battery-powered rickshaws has increased at an unusual rate throughout the country, including the capital. The traffic system of the capital has collapsed due to the influence of these rickshaws on the main roads including small connecting streets. Uncontrolled traffic and dangerous vehicles are now a cause of panic. The increase in battery-powered rickshaws has also hampered the movement of other vehicles.
In recent times there is a lot of anarchy in traffic control due to the reckless role of the traffic police. Meanwhile, this nuisance of auto rickshaws has started.
It can be seen in the area of New Market, Science lab, Kawran Bazar, Banglamotor, Shahbagh that battery operated auto rickshaws are running randomly on the main roads of these areas. These rickshaws are entering the road between buses and private cars. Some with cargo, some with passengers. It's not just breaking the rules, disobeying the traffic laws. Its drivers are involved in arguments on the road. Sometimes they are seen quarreling with bikers and sometimes with motorists. Especially on Hatirjheel area where rickshaws were never seen moving. Battery operated auto rickshaws are also running there. There are trolls on social media about these. But who cares?
However, the city dwellers are really fed up with the battery-powered rickshaws running on the main road. But they are not against such a vehicle. They say battery-powered rickshaws are in demand in this congested city. Along with this, passengers are also attracted as the rickshaws are well equipped and have comfortable seats. But of course it's better if it goes in the alley. These rickshaws have become a 'kind of pain' on the main roads of the capital. Drivers who sit with their feet up are not necessarily breaking traffic laws where he shows arrogance. And they are directly opposed to banning them on the main road.
Talked to Ohidur Rahman, a battery operated rickshaw driver in Kawran Bazar. He said, 'We have nothing to do with the main road. Passengers want us. Jams do not happen because of our rickshaws, traffic jams happen because of traffic police.
Battery operated rickshaw drivers demand that they have to run rickshaws on the main road to recover the cost of making and operating their rickshaws. Otherwise their deposits, charges and rickshaw charges will not be charged.
After research, it is known that two types of batteries are used in battery operated rickshaws. One is 130 volt capacity, the other is 230 volt. A 130 volt battery costs Tk. 40 to Tk. 50 to get fully charged. And 230 volt battery charge costs Tk. 50 to Tk. 70. But it is in individual management. In the meantime, arrangements have been made to charge the batteries of these vehicles in various stations and garages in the capital. Drivers claim that they have to pay from Tk. 100 to Tk. 200 to pay the charge there.
Talked to a driver named Hasu. He said, making such a rickshaw costs Tk. 90 thousand to Tk. 1.5 lakh. It costs around Tk. 150 a day to charge again. Tk. 500 rupees have to be deposited. The stomach won't move if you drive them all together.'
'Government can give us a separate lane. But it cannot be stopped,' claimed Hasu.
Some feel that battery-powered auto-rickshaws cannot be stopped; otherwise the situation will go out of control. This requires specific policies and rehabilitation measures, according to urban experts.
"If we can't control auto rickshaws, it will get worse. Later we will have to burn more wood and straw. We can't remove those who are on the road overnight. We have to be strategic," said Dr. Hadiuzzaman, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) former director of the research center and communication expert.
This expert told Barta24.com, urging the speedy formulation of policies that the sad thing is that initiatives have been taken repeatedly since 2018. Formulating policies especially for battery operated rickshaws. They will be able to walk on any road - that policy has also been made. But it is in draft form. To fully shape or actualize it did not see the face of light. As a result, we see that the number of auto rickshaws has dropped to possibly 30 to 40 lakhs.
"It will continue to increase if urgent policies are not put in place to control it. There is already a major collapse in traffic congestion and road safety, which is made more challenging by battery-powered rickshaws," said Dr. Hadiuzzaman.
Earlier in May, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of the government that fell in the popular uprising had ordered that no battery or motorized rickshaws be allowed to run in the capital. However, the battery operated rickshaw pullers protested against the order. The Hasina led government lifted the ban in the face of protests.
