New E-Rickshaw Guidelines Set Speed Limits, Registration Fees, and Permitted Routes
Government issues new e-rickshaw rules: mandatory registration fees, 25 km/h max (15 km/h near schools, hospitals), route bans and battery-safety rules.
At a glance
- Two-passenger e-rickshaws will require an Tk8,000 registration fee and Tk4,000 annual renewal fee. Four-passenger vehicles will require Tk10,000 for registration and Tk5,000 for annual renewal. The fitness certificate fee is Tk1,000.
- The maximum speed is 25 km/h, falling to 15 km/h near schools, hospitals, places of worship and crowded areas. Vehicles may carry either two or four passengers, depending on their approved size.
- E-rickshaws are prohibited on national highways, expressways, elevated expressways, BRT corridors, footpaths and other restricted roads.
- Registration will remain valid for five years, subject to annual renewal requirements. Each vehicle’s permitted economic lifespan is 12 years from registration.
- The rules also require approved charging arrangements, safe disposal and recycling of batteries, and compliance with technical safety standards.
Context
The Local Government Division issued the regulations through SRO No. 384-Law/2026 under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009. Published in the Bangladesh Gazette on October 29, the rules replace the 2025 regulations and establish a framework covering vehicle registration, manufacturing approval, road use, charging and environmental protection.
Why it matters
Battery-powered rickshaws regularly cause deaths, injuries and property damage, leaving those affected with medical and repair costs. Collisions with cars and pedestrians, along with congestion caused by unregulated auto-rickshaws, are common sights in Dhaka. At the same time, these vehicles are a main source of income for many low-income households and offer passengers affordable, quick transport.
What we think
The initiative is positive, but its success depends on consistent enforcement. Traffic rules already exist for other vehicles, but weak monitoring causes frequent violations by the drivers. If registration requirements, speed limits, fitness standards and route restrictions are enforced only occasionally, the problems will remain. Clear procedures, driver training and accountability for enforcement agencies will matter as much as publishing the rules.
