Govt to draft policy for battery-operated rickshaws: Zahed
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government will take measures regarding battery-operated rickshaws by formulating a comprehensive policy that takes their positive aspects into account.
He made these remarks on Tuesday in a press conference at the PID conference room in Dhaka.
Zahed added that battery-powered rickshaws offer several positive features. They are eco-friendly, create employment for numerous people, and improve transportation convenience for city residents. However, these vehicles cannot be allowed to run in an unrestrained and uncontrolled manner.
Explaining the government’s stance regarding battery-operated rickshaws, he noted, “The government is working on drafting a policy. After discussing with various stakeholders, what the licensing of autorickshaws will be, where they can run, what the speed will be, what their mechanical characteristics and safety measures will be - these issues will be ensured. After that, the government will take action.”
Highlighting the practical necessity of battery-operated autorickshaws, he added, “Yesterday I went out without a car. I waited for a long time for a rickshaw. After waiting for a long time, I got a rickshaw. On the road, I saw countless people standing and walking. The public transport situation for people in our city is also not good. As a result, these vehicles also have a benefit.”
However, Zahed expressed concern regarding the safety of these vehicles. He said while pedal-driven rickshaws operate at a fixed speed, battery-operated vehicles run at a relatively higher speed. The safety and mechanical quality of these vehicles are not always guaranteed to match that speed.
When questioned about NCP leaders standing beside battery-operated rickshaw drivers, he added, “I am not going into whether the opposition party is doing the right thing now. But if the opposition party does not always state its position on an issue, then there is a possibility or risk of the government doing wrong. In politics, everything is a political issue.”
Zahed noted that if the NCP has taken a political position favoring the autorickshaw drivers’ demands, that is also a part of democracy.
He said, “If they have taken a wrong position and if the majority of people in the country think they have taken a wrong position, then they will have to pay the political price for it.”
