The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has officially commenced a registration process aimed at restoring discipline to the movement of battery-operated e-rickshaws in its area.
Merely submitting an application will not guarantee registration; e-rickshaws must first be prepared according to designated guidelines and receive clearance from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
The formal registration process will begin once applicants submit their forms to the city corporation after fulfilling all conditions stipulated in “Three-Wheeler Low-Speed Battery-Powered Rickshaw (E-Rickshaw) Movement Regulations, 2026” issued by the Local Government Division.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam outlined these plans on Tuesday during an address regarding the registration, movement control, and management of e-rickshaws.
Clarifying the purpose of the application, Salam said the distribution of e-rickshaw registration forms had started.
“However, I want to make it clear that this form is not a movement permit; it is merely an application form for registration,” he emphasised.
He further noted that applicants must apply after meeting the required conditions and obtaining BUET clearance, with registrations to be granted in phases following necessary verification.
Outlining several specific initiatives to bring e-rickshaw management under a structured framework, the administrator stated that designated workshops will be fixed for manufacturing and repairing specified models of e-rickshaws.
Additionally, to prevent the use of illegal electrical connections, there are plans to set up designated charging stations at the ward or police station (thana) level.
To control the total number and movement of e-rickshaws, DSCC plans to divide its area into four distinct zones.
A joint meeting between the city corporation and the Bangladesh Police on 5 November will define detailed zonal boundaries and finalise the potential regional numbers of e-rickshaws.
Acknowledging that it is impossible to stop all auto-rickshaws at once, Salam said, “Rather than stopping everything all of a sudden, we want to gradually bring them under rules and registration”.
He added that in the first stage, whichever e-rickshaws meet the conditions – be it 500, 1,000, or 2,000 – will be approved for registration in phases. Regarding form collection, registration forms priced at Tk100 each went on distribution.
Except on public holidays, forms can be collected daily from 10am to 3pm from Nagar Bhaban and all DSCC regional offices, with a maximum limit of five application forms per individual.
Describing auto-rickshaws as one of the primary problems facing Dhaka city, the administrator sought cooperation from all stakeholders including citizens, rickshaw owners, drivers, and the media to address and resolve the issue.
