United News of Bangladesh

Registration of battery-powered three-wheeled e-rickshaws will begin in 13 city corporations across Bangladesh on Monday, with the government planning to bring the vehicles under a legal regulatory framework before issuing driving licences to their operators in phases. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam disclosed the descision  at the Secretariat on Sunday while briefing reporters on the rules for  slow-moving battery-powered three-wheelers in city corporation areas. He said the registration process would bring e-rickshaws, which have largely operated without a formal regulatory framework for 15 to 30 years, under legal management. The legal basis for registration was established through an amendment to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, passed in 2026. The relevant provision was incorporated into Section 120, and the rules have been formulated, vetted by the Law Ministry and published in the official gazette, he said. As a result, there is no longer any legal obstacle to starting the registration process, he added. Registration and renewal fees Under the new rules, registration of an e-rickshaw with a two-passenger capacity will cost Tk 8,000, while its annual renewal fee after a fitness inspection will be Tk 4,000. For a four-passenger e-rickshaw, the registration fee has been set at Tk 10,000, with a renewal fee of Tk 500 after one year. E-rickshaws will be allowed to operate for a maximum of 12 years, according to the rules. An additional Tk 1,000 will be charged for displaying a fitness certificate containing a QR code issued by the respective city corporation. Seven-member committee to regulate production The government has formed a seven-member committee to oversee e-rickshaw production and recommend approval of manufacturing companies, the state minister said. The committee comprises representatives from the Local Government Division, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), city corporations, police traffic departments and district administrations. He said the vehicles must be manufactured according to designs approved by BUET, adding that existing e-rickshaws would also have to be modified to comply with the approved designs. Manufacturers will carry out the modifications following its designs and with permission from the respective city corporations, he said. The rules also prohibit breaking or melting down e-rickshaw batteries. Violations and penalties The rules identify several offences, including operating an unregistered e-rickshaw, exceeding the approved speed limit, carrying more passengers than permitted, using unauthorised batteries and making unauthorised changes to the motor or vehicle structure. Operating in restricted areas, reckless driving, carrying goods without passengers, violating traffic signals and fleeing after an accident will also be treated as offences. Legal action will be taken against those violating the rules, the state minister said. Eight zones planned in Dhaka Explaining the proposed zoning system, Mir Shahe Alam said Dhaka would have eight zones, with four each under the two city corporations. E-rickshaws in each zone would have a separate colour, preventing them from operating in other zones. The number of e-rickshaws allowed in each zone will be determined through discussions between the traffic police and the two city corporations, taking traffic congestion into account. No limit has yet been set on the total number of e-rickshaws, he added. Driving licences to follow registration Although the rules include provisions for driving licences, the government will not issue them immediately, the state minister said. He explained that processing applications from a large number of drivers simultaneously would be difficult for the city corporations. The authorities will therefore prioritise vehicle registration before bringing drivers under the licensing system through a separate notification. No immediate eviction of existing e-rickshaws The state minister urged existing e-rickshaw drivers in Dhaka not to panic, saying the government had no plan to abruptly stop their operations. "Everyone is requested to continue operating as they are for now. We will gradually register vehicles in accordance with the rules and take steps to remove illegal battery-powered rickshaws in phases," he said. Registration will be carried out over several days or weeks, depending on the process, he added. Solar-powered charging points The rules also provide for regulating e-rickshaw charging stations. Charging points will be permitted at designated locations, while establishments capable of providing solar-powered charging facilities will be eligible for approval or trade licences from city corporations. Legal action will be taken against unauthorised electricity use for charging e-rickshaws. City corporation magistrates will regularly monitor such activities, he said. Fares to be fixed per kilometre E-rickshaw fares will be determined after the registration process begins, through consultations among vehicle owners, traffic authorities and city corporations. The fare will be fixed on a per-kilometre basis, the state minister said.