Rickshaws Multiply at Rocket Speed

Nearly one hundred thousand unlicensed battery-powered rickshaws and mixed vehicles (locally known as 'mishuk') have thrown the Narayanganj City Corporation (Nasik) into a crisis over control. Following the announcement of a decision to implement "one license per rickshaw owner, and drivers must also have a separate driving license," various irregularities have come to light. A syndicate has pocketed approximately Tk 50 crore by capitalizing on the renewal of Nasik's rickshaw 'licenses' within one year of permission being granted in 2024.

In January 2024, about 17,000 pedal-powered rickshaws were given the opportunity to convert to battery-powered rickshaws for Tk 5,000 each, and these rickshaws were offered license renewal at Tk 1,050 per year. However, by December of that same year, the number of battery-powered rickshaws and mishuks exceeded 1 lakh, facilitated by forged Nasik number plates. Now, Nasik is struggling to control these illegal vehicles. By exploiting the renewal opportunity, forging licenses, and putting 80,000 mishuks on the roads, the syndicate has extorted Tk 5,000 to Tk 30,000 from owners and drivers of illegal auto-rickshaws, amassing around Tk 50 crore. Nasik is furious about this situation. The policy of 'one license per owner and a separate license for the driver' has put battery-powered rickshaw and mishuk owners in direct confrontation with the authorities.

Widespread Use of Fake Number Plates

After renewing licenses for more than 17,000 battery-powered rickshaws, a decision was made to allow only yellow-colored rickshaws on the city's roads. However, by changing colors and forging registered number plates, approximately 80,000 mishuks and battery-powered rickshaws are currently plying the city streets. Unscrupulous auto-rickshaw owners and a large syndicate are copying various number plates daily, creating hundreds of plates using the same license number. These fake plates are produced in various printing factories by scanning plate codes and covering them with plastic. Furthermore, the syndicate commits fraud by placing the word 'Mishuk' over the word 'Rickshaw' on licenses issued by the City Corporation, allowing these vehicles to operate freely. Since the registered number plates look almost identical, distinguishing between genuine and fake ones is impossible.

Conversion, Licensing, and Number Plate Forgery

According to Nasik's records, during the tenure of Mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, the ninth monthly meeting of Nasik on January 23, 2024, discussed licensing for battery-powered auto-rickshaws operating in the city. The meeting decided to allow a total of 16,963 rickshaws licensed during the tenure of three municipalities to be converted and operated as electric rickshaws. In this process, Nasik collected nearly Tk 11 crore in revenue, including arrears, from around 11,000 license renewals. A fee of Tk 5,000 was charged per rickshaw for conversion from pedal to electric, and Tk 1,021 for renewal. However, subsequently, a single renewed license plate was forged and extensively applied to mishuks and electric rickshaws. These fake license plates were attached to nearly 80,000 electric rickshaws and mishuks, causing the City Corporation to lose a vast amount of revenue.

After granting permission to convert pedal rickshaws into mishuks, a syndicate capitalized on this opportunity to run a Tk 50 crore 'license business,' rickshaw drivers have revealed. Since then, these licenses have slipped out of the hands of ordinary rickshaw drivers. Now, a few individuals hold 300–400 licensed mishuks each under Nasik. Even now, these licenses change hands between owners for substantial sums of money. Currently, in Narayanganj city, the price of each mishuk license is Tk 33,000–36,000; in Siddhirganj, it is Tk 25,000–26,000; and in Bandar, the license price is Tk 10,000–12,000.

Although Nasik only approved the conversion of old pedal rickshaws to electric ones, the 'mishuk' vehicle was never mentioned in the approval. A ground observation reveals that on the number plates of at least 500 such vehicles in Narayanganj city, the word 'Mishuk' has been separately pasted over the part that reads 'Rickshaw License' on the license plate. The collusion of City Corporation officials and employees becomes clear from the fact that a separate 'Mishuk' stamp seal is being given on the 'renewal slips.' Through this subtle manipulation, the syndicate pocketed Tk 50 crore by capitalizing on the renewal licenses of 17,000 converted electric rickshaws to put over 80,000 illegal 'mishuks' and 'battery-powered rickshaws' on the roads.

Over 5,000 Licenses in the Hands of 150 People

Although it was stated that one license would be given per person, over 5,000 licenses are currently in the hands of 150 members of the Nasik Rickshaw and Mishuk Owners Unity Cooperative Limited. Although the conversion of rickshaws into mishuks was approved in 2024, the organization was registered with the Cooperative Department in 2026. The organization's president, Abdur Rahman Biswas, stated that the municipality or the City Corporation never issued driving licenses for drivers. He claimed that over 150 owners hold more than 30,000–40,000 licenses combined. Currently, 70,000–80,000 auto-rickshaws ply the city. In reality, however, only 15,851 have active registration numbers.

Committee Formed to Control Battery-Powered Rickshaws

Meanwhile, on June 4 of this year, a 15-member committee was formed to make recommendations on the re-renewal of previously issued rickshaw, mishuk, and van licenses, and to monitor the renewal process, in order to ease traffic congestion, control illegal vehicle movement, and bring discipline to the city's traffic. The convener of this committee, Narayanganj City Corporation's City Planner Md. Moinul Islam, said, "The entire process of converting pedal rickshaws to mishuks, issuing licenses, and renewing licenses was carried out by the License Department. I am not aware whether the policy of 'one license per owner and a separate driving license for each driver' was actually implemented in 2024."

The member secretary of the committee and Nasik's License Officer, Sazzad Hossain, commented, "I was not in this role for 17 years. Following the Electric Motor Vehicle Registration and Movement Policy-2023, Nasik approved the conversion of pedal rickshaws to electric rickshaws and the renewal of licenses in 2024. Those who were the old owners of rickshaws were the ones who got the opportunity for conversion to mishuk."

Nasik Administrator Sakhawat Hossain Khan stated, "In the case of issuing new number plates or licenses for battery-powered auto-rickshaws in the Nasik area, no one will be given more than one license. Not only that, but the license holder must drive the vehicle themselves. A committee has been formed to supervise this matter. Those who receive licenses will be given an ID card. The committee itself will determine the design and rules for this card. The committee has been given full authority in this regard."