Policy Planned for E-Rickshaw Management

The Local Government Division has initiated work on a policy to establish a coordinated licensing and registration framework for battery-powered three-wheeled low-speed rickshaws, or e-rickshaws. The policy will cover e-rickshaw operations in city corporations, municipalities, upazilas and union parishads, with the aim of improving traffic discipline, urban management and road safety.

August 13, Thursday, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shah Alam disclosed the initiative at a discussion meeting on e-rickshaw operations and management held at the meeting room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat. He chaired the meeting.

The meeting discussed in detail effective measures for managing battery-powered e-rickshaws in light of urban management, traffic discipline, road safety and existing realities. Relevant stakeholders presented their views and recommendations.

State Minister Mir Shah Alam said a policy for e-rickshaw management was being formulated in accordance with the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 and the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026.

He said effective implementation of the policy would play an important role in controlling traffic congestion, maintaining traffic discipline and ensuring road safety in cities. At the same time, a systematic licensing and registration process through local government bodies would generate revenue for the government treasury.

He further said existing regulations would be updated and an initiative would be taken to amend the prevailing rules to establish an integrated licensing authority for city corporations, municipalities, upazilas and union parishads.

It may be noted that several relevant provisions and schedules of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026 have already been amended to create provisions for registering battery-powered rickshaws and issuing licences to drivers in city corporation areas.

Earlier, on December 14, 2025, the Local Government Division issued the ‘Rules for Operation of Three-Wheeled Low-Speed Battery-Powered Rickshaws (E-Rickshaws) in City Corporation Areas, 2025’ to regulate e-rickshaw operations in city corporation areas. The rules were published in the gazette on December 17, 2025.

Professor Dr Md Hadiuzzaman of the Department of Civil Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) provided expert opinions on the issue at the meeting.