Govt bans import, production of Easy-bikes

Taking into account their vulnerability and unauthorised power consumption, the government has decided to phase out Easy-bikes. UPDATES

Dhaka, May 5 (bdnews24.com) — The government has banned the import and manufacturing of battery-run three-wheelers in Bangladesh, the communications minister has said.

"Such vehicles, widely known as Easy-bikes, will be phased out,"

Abul Hossain told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday.

He said his ministry also decided not to allow fresh registration of such vehicles.

These vulnerable three-wheelers are plying all over Bangladesh. Lately, the Easy-bikes are also seen in some areas of capital Dhaka.

The meeting also decided that those already running on the streets would not be allowed after a specific timeframe to be set by experts.

The minister said the Easy-bikes would be seized if found consuming power illegally.

Hossain said 300 MW to 500 MW power was used every day to recharge an Easy-bike and in most cases it was done illegally. The quality and security standard of such vehicles are not fit for registration.

The communications minister said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) did not issue licenses to these vehicles, but such licenses were given from the local government units such as city corporations, municipalities and union councils. "From now on, no license will be issued to such vehicles."

Roads and highways department secretary Mozammel Haque Khan alleged that the batteries of the vehicles have to change after six to nine months and the lead emanated from the damaged batteries are very harmful to the environment.

Commerce secretary Golam Hossain said a proposal was sent to the law ministry in Oct last year to impose a ban on the manufacturing and import of Easy-bikes. "The issue is now at the final stage."

State minister for local government Jahangir Kabir Nanak told the meeting that the livelihoods of thousands of people depend on the vehicles. "Alternative measures should be taken after banning the vehicles."

Local government secretary Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan said currently there were around 250,000 Easy-bikes in the country. "There is an investment of 50 billion in this sector and around 500,000 people earn their livelihoods from it."

Shipping minister Shahjahan Khan said parliament members (MPs) and trade unions were also involved in this sector. Above all, there is a scarcity of transports in the country," he said.

"So, there'll be problems if any tough decision is taken. Such vehicles should be given licenses after assessing their quality through tests by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)."

Echoing the communications minister, BRTA chairman Aiubur Rahman said such vehicles are not fit for registration when it comes to quality and safety of passengers. "So, these vehicles cannot get license in any way."

Home minister Shahara Khatun and high officials of other ministries were also present at the meeting.

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