Battery-run illegal vehicles reign in Bogra town

Hundreds of unauthorised battery-run auto-rickshaws and rickshaws have flooded Bogra town, causing huge tailbacks and accidents, to the suffering of the commuters.

Toll collection by the auto-rickshaw owners' and labours' associations, rent for the vehicle, recharging fee and maintenance cost force the drivers to drive recklessly to earn enough to maintain their families.

Locals said about 8,000 battery-run-rickshaws and 4,000 battery-run auto-rickshaws are running in the town, though the authorities concerned do not know the actual number.

A driver of a battery-run auto-rickshaw said he has to pay Tk 60 in total every day to the owners' association, district motor workers' association, labours' association and as toll taken allegedly by ruling party leaders. He also has to pay the auto-rickshaw owner and the recharge fee and garage fee separately.

A battery-run-rickshaw driver said he has to pay Tk 20 daily to the battery-run-rickshaw charger owners' association, and also the garage fee and recharge fee.

Some auto-rickshaw drivers said the police seized their vehicles and released them after getting Tk 400 to Tk 500.

Executive Engineer of Power Development Board in Bogra Dewan Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal said a lot of electricity is used for charging the batteries legally, and constant vigilance is needed to prevent electricity theft.

Assistant Director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in Bogra Kazi Md Mursalin said there are 5,290 registered CNG-run auto-rickshaws, but many more unregistered battery-run vehicles are plying in the district.

They cannot conduct any drive against the unlicensed vehicles, except for mobile courts to take the unlicensed vehicles under registration, he added.

Representative of Bogra district charger rickshaw/van owners' association Rabbi Mia said they have been collecting Tk 20 per day and Tk 1,500 for registration for the welfare of the transport workers and management of the law enforcers.

Traffic Inspector of Bogra Bikarna Chowdhury refuted the allegations against the police.