Government takes initiative to formulate policy for e-rickshaw management

Dhaka

Dhaka Magazine Desk

Published: Thursday, 13 August 2026

The government has taken an initiative to formulate a policy for managing battery-powered rickshaws (e-rickshaws) in city corporation, municipality, upazila and union parishad areas. A discussion meeting on this subject was held today, Thursday (13 August 2026), in the meeting room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam.

The meeting discussed in detail the effective steps to be taken for e-rickshaw management in light of urban management, traffic discipline, road safety and the actual situation. The relevant stakeholders presented their opinions and recommendations.

State Minister Mir Shah Alam said that a policy is being formulated for e-rickshaw management in light of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 and the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026. He said that if the policy is properly implemented, it will play an important role in controlling urban traffic congestion, ensuring traffic discipline and road safety. Besides, the government's revenue will also increase due to the systematic licensing and registration process through local government.

He further said that to this end, an initiative will be taken to amend the existing rules to make them time-befitting and to determine an integrated licensing authority for city corporations, municipalities, upazilas and union parishads.

It is to be noted that necessary sections and schedules of the 'Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026' have been amended to create the opportunity for e-rickshaw registration and driver's license issuance in city corporation areas. Earlier, on 14 December 2025, the Local Government Division issued the 'Rules for the Movement of Three-Wheeled Low-Speed Battery-Powered Rickshaws (E-Rickshaws) in City Corporation Areas, 2025', which was published as a gazette on 17 December 2025.

At the meeting, Professor Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman of the Department of Civil Engineering, BUET provided an expert opinion.

The meeting was attended by Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan, Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hasan, Chief Executive Officers of both city corporations, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md. Anisur Rahman, along with senior officials of the ministry and city corporations.