Illegal battery-run rickshaws ply Khulna city roads

A section of unscrupulous rickshaw owners are running their battery-run-cum-pedal powered rickshaws, popularly known as ‘tomtom’ in Khulna city flouting ban. These motor-rickshaws are similar to ordinary paddle rickshaws but with a battery-run motor set under the body and are powered by four rechargeable batteries. Having no valid licence and road permit, these vehicles are running under the very nose of the authorities concerned. Licence officer (vehicle branch) of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Kazi Md Imrul Hasan said KCC have provided licences to 17,000 pedal-powered rickshaws but the number of these vehicles plying the city roads has almost doubled, he claimed. On the other hand, Kazi Imrul admitted that KCC authorities do not know how many of these new breed of motor-rickshaws ply the city roads.  A section of unscrupulous rickshaw owners are illegal earning money by copying the licence of city corporation and using the same number plates on several rickshaws, alleged some pedal-powered rickshaw-pullers.
President of Khulna Battery-run Auto-rickshaws Workers’ Union Alamgir Hossain Babu said that nearly 5,000 families are surviving as over 5,000 motor-rickshaws are running in the city every day. Besides, over 3,000 youths have got opportunity to earn money by driving motor-rickshaws.
Md Abdus Sattar, a motorised rickshaw driver in Sonadanga, said he hired the battery-run rickshaw from the garage in the same area. “I pay Tk 160 per day for hire of the rickshaw, but the rent was Tk 200 when it first hit the road. Traffic police do not say anything if we drive it,” Sattar added.
The revenue officer of KCC Md Wahiduzzaman Khan said thousands of battery-run motor-rickshaws are in operation flouting ban imposed by the government in 2012. “These bikes are run by motors, instead of engines. The vehicle emits acids and consumes a huge amount of electricity every day for recharging, adding to load shedding,” added Wahid.
Power Development Board (PDB), Khulna sources said each of the auto-bikes, which have to be charged eight hours daily, consumes 7-8 units of electricity when a motor-rickshaw consumes around 2-3 units every day.
Locals complained that these recharging stations use electricity connections illegally. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, a resident of Tutpara area, said most of the recharging takes place at night, illegally using electricity from different electric posts.
Deputy Director of the Khulna circle of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) AKM Kamrul Hasan said that it will not give approval for the use of such battery-powered rickshaws. He said all motor vehicles need six types of documents to be on roads but the motor-rickshaws and easy-bikes had none. “These vehicles are illegal and we are asking people not to use them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Member Secretary of Khulna Nagarik Samaj Advocate Md Babul Hawlader alleged that the battery-run rickshaw drivers drive their vehicles recklessly, often causing accidents. He also alleged, “Some leaders of the ruling party’s associate organisation Shramik League are involved with the motorised rickshaw trade. For this reason, traffic police do not prevent them from plying in the road.”

 

Illegal battery-run rickshaws ply Khulna city roads

A section of unscrupulous rickshaw owners are running their battery-run-cum-pedal powered rickshaws, popularly known as tomtom in Khulna city flouting ban. These motor-rickshaws are similar to ordinary paddle rickshaws but with a battery-run motor set under the body and are powered by four rechargeable batteries. Having no valid licence and road permit, these vehicles are running under the very nose of the authorities concerned. Licence officer (vehicle branch) of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Kazi Md Imrul Hasan said KCC have provided licences to 17,000 pedal-powered rickshaws but the number of these vehicles plying the city roads has almost doubled, he claimed. On the other hand, Kazi Imrul admitted that KCC authorities do not know how many of these new breed of motor-rickshaws ply the city roads. A section of unscrupulous rickshaw owners are illegal earning money by copying the licence of city corporation and using the same number plates on several rickshaws, alleged some pedal-powered rickshaw-pullers. President of Khulna Battery-run Auto-rickshaws Workers Union Alamgir Hossain Babu said that nearly 5,000 families are surviving as over 5,000 motor-rickshaws are running in the city every day. Besides, over 3,000 youths have got opportunity to earn money by driving motor-rickshaws. Md Abdus Sattar, a motorised rickshaw driver in Sonadanga, said he hired the battery-run rickshaw from the garage in the same area. I pay Tk 160 per day for hire of the rickshaw, but the rent was Tk 200 when it first hit the road. Traffic police do not say anything if we drive it, Sattar added. The revenue officer of KCC Md Wahiduzzaman Khan said thousands of battery-run motor-rickshaws are in operation flouting ban imposed by the government in 2012. These bikes are run by motors, instead of engines. The vehicle emits acids and consumes a huge amount of electricity every day for recharging, adding to load shedding, added Wahid. Power Development Board (PDB), Khulna sources said each of the auto-bikes, which have to be charged eight hours daily, consumes 7-8 units of electricity when a motor-rickshaw consumes around 2-3 units every day. Locals complained that these recharging stations use electricity connections illegally. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, a resident of Tutpara area, said most of the recharging takes place at night, illegally using electricity from different electric posts. Deputy Director of the Khulna circle of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) AKM Kamrul Hasan said that it will not give approval for the use of such battery-powered rickshaws. He said all motor vehicles need six types of documents to be on roads but the motor-rickshaws and easy-bikes had none. These vehicles are illegal and we are asking people not to use them, he added. Meanwhile, Member Secretary of Khulna Nagarik Samaj Advocate Md Babul Hawlader alleged that the battery-run rickshaw drivers drive their vehicles recklessly, often causing accidents. He also alleged, Some leaders of the ruling partys associate organisation Shramik League are involved with the motorised rickshaw trade. For this reason, traffic police do not prevent them from plying in the road.