A legal notice has been served on the government demanding a complete ban on pedal-operated rickshaws, the approval and regulation of safe battery-operated rickshaws, and the imposition of strict controls on private cars to safeguard public health and the environment.
The notice was sent in public interest on Tuesday by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun.
It was addressed to cabinet secretary, secretary of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and chairman of National Board of Revenue.
According to the notice, less than 1 per cent of the population uses private cars, yet these vehicles occupy a major portion of the country’s road space. Their reliance on imported fuel also places a significant strain on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and government fuel subsidies.
Additionally, the lawyer highlighted that emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter from private cars cause severe air pollution, which poses a direct threat to public health and the human right to life.
In contrast, 99 per cent of the population relies on public transport and rickshaws for their daily commute. The notice points out that due to economic crises and a lack of alternative employment, many marginalised individuals are forced to engage in the gruelling physical labour of pulling pedal rickshaws.
Operating these passenger-laden vehicles under adverse conditions, such as extreme heatwaves, heavy rain, and traffic congestion, causes long-term muscle and joint degeneration, premature ageing, and malnutrition.
The notice characterises this strenuous toil as a form of “modern slavery”, noting that forced labour is strictly prohibited under Article 34 of the Constitution.
The legal notice argues that alongside banning pedal rickshaws, the government must approve battery-operated rickshaws as a humane and essential alternative for local transport.
However, this approval must be regulated through a clear policy framework that incorporates strict safety standards, including speed limits, braking systems, battery quality, structural safety, and scientific charging mechanisms.
The lawyer maintained that electricity consumption by battery-operated rickshaws should not be deemed a waste of state resources, as it directly supports the mobility, employment, education, healthcare, and daily economic activities of most of the population.
In support of this, the notice cites “Doctrine of Proportionality,” asserting that state resources should be prioritised for the welfare of the majority whose labour and movement sustain the economy.
To curb the use of private cars, the notice demands strict administrative curbs and the imposition of a high environmental tax. It also suggests encouraging services like ride-sharing, rent-a-car, and metered car services to help mitigate unemployment.
The government authorities have been given a 10-day deadline to take necessary administrative actions regarding these demands, failing which legal proceedings will be initiated.
