Battery-operated auto-rickshaws are causing an estimated annual revenue loss of Tk 4,000 crore (Tk 40.0 billion) to the state exchequer while consuming nearly 5 per cent of the nation's total electricity generation, Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed revealed in parliament on Monday.
Responding to an urgent public interest notice under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure, tabled by reserved women's seat-4 MP Rehana Akhter Ranu, the minister highlighted the mounting pressure these unregulated vehicles are placing on power management, road safety, traffic congestion, the environment, and government revenue.
According to the Home Minister, approximately 5 to 8 million electric three-wheelers are currently operating across the country. Their collective electricity demand accounts for about 5 per cent—or potentially more—of Bangladesh's total power production. However, legal charging points number only around 3,300 nationwide, while the government estimates over 48,000 informal or illegal charging points exist in Dhaka alone.
"The widespread use of illegal power connections for charging these vehicles is costing the government around Tk 4,000 crore in lost revenue annually," Minister Salauddin Ahmed told the House. He added that the excessive load on transformers and distribution lines, coupled with surging peak-hour demand, is placing immense strain on the national grid and local distribution systems.
MP Rehana Akhter Ranu, who raised the notice titled "Regarding Uncontrolled Auto-Rickshaw Movement," pointed out that while 50 AI-powered traffic cameras have been installed at 17 signals in Dhaka to curb traffic violations, they remain largely ineffective against battery-run auto-rickshaws because these vehicles lack registration plates. As a result, fines cannot be issued even when infractions—such as running red lights, changing lanes improperly, or exceeding speed limits—are detected by the cameras.
The MP noted that approximately 300 new auto-rickshaws are being added to Dhaka's roads daily, with an estimated 1,000 megawatts of electricity consumed daily for charging—a factor she claimed is contributing to ongoing load-shedding.
On road safety, the Home Minister provided alarming statistics, revealing that in 2025, Bangladesh recorded 6,729 road accidents resulting in 911 fatalities and 14,812 injuries. Battery-operated auto-rickshaws were involved in 13.54 per cent of these incidents. He attributed the risks to unregistered vehicles, untrained drivers, faulty designs, defective brakes and lighting systems, excessive speed, and the presence of slow-moving vehicles on highways.
Environmental concerns were also addressed, with the minister noting that the unsafe recycling and informal management of lead-acid batteries used in these vehicles are causing severe lead contamination, as well as soil and water pollution, posing serious health risks—particularly to child labourers—while also damaging the agriculture and poultry industries. He assured that new regulations would incorporate provisions for environmentally friendly batteries.
The government is actively formulating a comprehensive policy to bring the sector under a disciplined and regulated framework, the Home Minister said. Under the proposed system, authorised auto-rickshaws will be identified through number plates and QR codes. Drivers will be brought under registration and, in phases, provided with necessary training and licensing. Designated routes will be assigned to prevent plying on major highways, and measures will be introduced to ensure that a single registration number cannot be used for multiple vehicles. Digital tracking systems for batteries and vehicles are also being explored.
MP Rehana Akhter Ranu clarified that she is not advocating for a ban on auto-rickshaws, recognising that millions of livelihoods depend on the sector. She urged the government to avoid seizing vehicles, dumping them, or harassing drivers without providing alternative solutions, and instead allow these vehicles to operate on internal roads rather than main thoroughfares.
"Ensuring that unemployment does not rise, livelihoods are not disrupted, the environment is protected, and disciplined vehicle movement is guaranteed—that is the government's goal," the Home Minister responded.
He further announced that in continuation of the current AI-camera initiative, an additional 200 AI-based cameras are being installed in the Ramna and Tejgaon traffic divisions, with plans to gradually expand coverage to major roads and intersections across the Dhaka metropolitan area.
