Battery-run rickshaw accidents spike during Eid holiday in Dhaka

Road accidents involving battery-run rickshaws have surged during the recent Eid holiday, according to reports from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). The hospital treated 431 victims, with most injuries linked to reckless driving and poorly regulated three-wheelers that have flooded Dhaka's streets in the past year and a half. Battery-powered rickshaws were introduced in Dhaka in late 2024. By the end of that year, 1,247 were officially registered. But their numbers have since grown rapidly, and so have accidents.

Between March and August 2025, these vehicles were involved in a rising share of crashes. Out of 1,621 road accident victims treated at NITOR, 315 (19.43%) were hurt in battery-run rickshaw incidents—more than motorcycle accidents, which accounted for 178 cases (10.98%). During the Eid break alone, NITOR performed emergency operations on 416 of the 431 patients admitted.

Experts point to reckless driving, unskilled operators, weak law enforcement, and widespread disregard for traffic rules as key reasons for the spike. Fatalities from these vehicles have also climbed: they caused 20.52% of road deaths in 2023, 21.01% in 2024, and 19.75% by August 2025. The rise in battery-run rickshaw accidents has become a growing concern for Dhaka's road safety. With hundreds more of these vehicles appearing in recent months, authorities face pressure to enforce stricter regulations and improve driver training. The latest figures highlight the urgent need for action to reduce injuries and deaths.