The Rickshaw, Battery-Powered Rickshaw-Van and Easybike Struggle Council has demanded dedicated lane services for battery-powered rickshaws, autorickshaws and other slow-moving vehicles operating in Dhaka and across Bangladesh. At a Thursday press conference in front of the National Press Club, the group presented six demands, including parking facilities and charging stations at key road points.

Convener Khalekuzzaman Lipon said battery-powered vehicles have long been blamed for traffic congestion, accidents and load-shedding, while the reasons people drive and use them are overlooked. He cited severe unemployment as a factor pushing people into rickshaw driving and said passengers use the vehicles because they lack another easy and affordable transport option. He added that charging is generally done after 10pm, when load-shedding is lowest.

The group called for a unified policy covering training, registration and route permits, while protecting the local automobile industry. It also sought approval for local producers to manufacture government-approved e-rickshaw designs, training for mechanics, subsidies to replace batteries with environmentally friendly lithium batteries, and at least two years to modify locally made vehicles to approved designs.