Dhaka's battery-run three-wheelers fuel surge in deadly road crashes

Dhaka has seen a sharp rise in accidents involving battery-run three-wheelers over the past year. By the end of 2024, the city had registered 1,247 of these vehicles, but crashes surged dramatically in early 2025. Hospitals reported a high number of injuries during the recent Eid holiday, with many linked to these vehicles. The number of battery-powered three-wheelers in Dhaka grew rapidly in the second half of 2024. However, by March 2025, accidents involving them had increased significantly. A study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue revealed these vehicles accounted for 20.52% of road deaths in 2023, 21.01% in 2024, and 19.75% up to August 2025.

During the Eid holiday, the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) treated 431 patients and performed emergency surgeries on 416 victims. Most of those injured were involved in crashes with battery-run rickshaws. Out of 1,621 road accident victims recorded, 315 (19.43%) were linked to these vehicles—far higher than the 178 (10.98%) hurt in motorcycle incidents. The Road Safety Foundation points to reckless driving, unskilled operators, weak law enforcement, and widespread traffic violations as key causes. Meanwhile, the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh has warned that accidents will keep rising unless stricter controls are introduced.

Battery-run three-wheelers now dominate Dhaka's roads, but their rapid growth has led to more crashes. Hospitals continue to treat high numbers of victims, particularly during busy holiday periods. Authorities face pressure to enforce stricter regulations to reduce the rising toll.