The government has introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework for battery-operated e-rickshaws, rendering registration, fitness certification, and QR-coded number plates mandatory while restricting operation to designated routes and zones within city corporations nationwide.
Issued by the Local Government Division, the Three-Wheeler Battery-Operated Rickshaw (E-Rickshaw) Operation Rules, 2026 took immediate effect, establishing strict requirements for vehicle standards, passenger safety, traffic management, charging infrastructure, and environmental protection.
Zone restrictions and registration
City corporations will determine the number of e-rickshaws permitted within their jurisdictions, subject to government approval and consultation with local traffic divisions. Authorities will divide areas into distinct zones with specified roads and stands.
E-rickshaws assigned to one zone may not operate in another, nor may vehicles registered with one city corporation operate commercially in another.
Applicants must be Bangladeshi citizens aged 18 or over. Registration requires a national identity card, two passport photos, fee payment, and a valid fitness certificate. Following technical inspections against standards prescribed by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), authorities must process eligible vehicles within 30 working days.
Registered vehicles will receive a unique registration number with a QR code and a physical number plate, valid for five years. No individual may register more than five e-rickshaws across all city corporations.
Fees, standards, and operational limits
Registration fees are set at Tk8,000 for a two-passenger model and Tk10,000 for a four-passenger model (excluding the driver), with annual renewal fees of Tk4,000 and Tk5,000 respectively. A fitness certificate costs Tk1,000.
E-rickshaws carry an economic lifespan of 12 years. Vehicles with mechanical defects or unauthorised modifications are barred from public roads. Furthermore, e-rickshaws are prohibited from national highways, expressways, elevated expressways, major bus corridors, and footpaths. Drivers must remain in the left-hand lane and refrain from mobile phone use while driving.
Speed limits are capped at 25 km/h, reducing to 15 km/h near schools, hospitals, places of worship, and crowded areas. Carrying commercial goods beyond passenger luggage is prohibited.
Charging, environment, and enforcement
Batteries must be charged exclusively at authorised charging points or licensed garages; unauthorised electricity usage will incur penalties. The government plans to promote solar-powered charging and support battery-exchange hubs through public-private partnerships. Financial institutions may offer loans for vehicle procurement and infrastructure development.
Spent batteries must not be discarded in open spaces or water bodies. Retailers must collect used units and transfer them to approved recycling facilities, whilst battery dismantling and melting require Department of Environment authorisation.
In the event of an accident, drivers must stop immediately, alert the police, and seek assistance from the nearest fire service station.
Offenses include operating unregistered vehicles, speeding, using unauthorised batteries, overloading, and reckless driving.
The 2026 regulations repeal the 2025 rules whilst preserving actions previously taken and allowing pending proceedings to conclude under the updated framework.
