Factories without approval, regulation and safety measures are churning out battery-driven autorickshaws that cripple Tangail town’s regular traffic flow.
Despite having licences for only 6,000 pedal rickshaws, the number of battery-run vehicles on the streets is estimated to be three to four times higher, according to municipal sources.
Officials at the licence branch of Tangail Municipality these licences were issued during the tenure of former mayor Sirajul Haque Alamgir, each costing Tk1,000.
Although the licences were meant solely for pedal rickshaws, a section of unscrupulous officials allegedly allowed their use for battery-run vehicles, in violation of municipal rules. Some owners hold more than ten licences under the same name and rent out fleets of battery-run rickshaws to drivers.
Most of the battery-run rickshaws now operating in Tangail are being manufactured illegally in more than 30 unauthorised workshops, including improvised facilities like Maa Motors, Bismillah Motors and Ekota Motors.
Most of the mechanics in these workshops have no technical training or educational qualifications.
A visit to the Maa Motors workshop in Chilabari area of Dainya Union found three mechanics building multiple rickshaw bodies.
Two workers had been hired from Rangpur and Mymensingh, while a 12-year-old boy was seen welding without any protective gear. Workers said they earn Tk1,200 for building a rickshaw body and Tk3,000 for an auto-rickshaw body, with the owner providing food and accommodation.
Dulal Mia, the owner of Maa Motors and a former rickshaw maker, admitted he had no approval or technical certification to run the factory.
“I have long experience repairing rickshaws. I opened the workshop with that experience,” he said, adding that he does not follow any approval requirements from the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).
Local union parishad member Sorhab Hossain said the workshop indeed lies within his ward but he was not aware of any valid documents. “If necessary, I will look into the matter,” he said.
Teachers and residents said the number of unregistered battery-run rickshaws is rising daily, worsening traffic congestion.
Schoolteacher Selina Hossain said, “The number of these vehicles far exceeds the town’s capacity. Untrained drivers park anywhere they want and pick up passengers haphazardly, making the congestion unbearable. Closing the illegal workshops would ease traffic to some extent.”
Tangail Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shaheen Mia, who recently took charge, said manufacturing battery-run rickshaws is illegal.
“If we find such factories, legal action will be taken,” he said.
Tangail Municipality Administrator and Deputy Secretary Md Shihab Rayhan said no new licences for battery-run rickshaws have been issued since he assumed office.
“We conduct regular drives to remove illegal battery-run vehicles. We are also discussing with district and police authorities whether these vehicles can be seized and dumped,” he said.
