Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader announced on Wednesday that no battery-run rickshaws will be allowed on Dhaka city roads.
“Additionally, the government will enforce a ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy across the country, similar to the one already implemented in Dhaka, to reduce road accident casualties,” he said to reporters after the first advisory council meeting of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) held in Dhaka.
In the meeting, he instructed officials to first implement the ban on battery-operated rickshaws in Dhaka and then extend the ban to 22 highways as previously announced.
The minister said that the government has successfully regulated motorcycle use in Dhaka city, with almost everyone now wearing helmets.
"Now, almost everyone wears a helmet. However, we need to adopt this policy outside Dhaka as well. The 'no helmet, no fuel' rule must be enforced. Additionally, no more than two people, including the driver, will be allowed on motorcycles nationwide," he said.
The minister highlighted that motorcycles and easy bikes are responsible for most accidents and need to be controlled.
He also called for the removal of unfit vehicles and the cessation of hooter use in cars.
Earlier in the meeting, the mayors of Dhaka's two city corporations agreed to ban battery-powered rickshaws in the city.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said that battery-powered rickshaw drivers often drive at reckless speeds.
Many disabled individuals, including those with limited vision, also drive these rickshaws, he added.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam emphasised the need to prohibit battery-operated rickshaws, auto rickshaws, and easy bikes in Dhaka, citing the risks they pose.
