A rapid rise of unregistered e-rickshaws in Bangladesh is choking cities and exposing communities to dangerous lead pollution from poorly regulated battery production and recycling amid policy failures nationwide today.
Bangladesh is facing an alarming surge in electric three-wheelers commonly called e-rickshaws or easybikes raising serious concerns over urban congestion and public health. A study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue estimates that around 4 million e-rickshaws operate nationwide with nearly 2 million in the capital Dhaka where 95 percent remain unregistered.
While cities such as Chittagong Rajshahi Khulna Rangpur Sylhet and Mymensingh also host large numbers of these vehicles Dhaka suffers the worst traffic gridlock due to their sheer density. Registration statistics highlight the regulatory gap. Only 5 percent of Dhaka’s e-rickshaws are registered. Chittagong has a registration rate of 24.5 percent while Rajshahi sees more than 91 percent operating without registration.
Experts warn that registration alone cannot resolve the crisis. Comprehensive structural reforms strict enforcement and dedicated policies for electric three-wheelers are urgently needed.
Transport expert and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Professor Dr. Samsul Haque attributes the situation to decades of regulatory neglect. “This problem should have been managed from the production stage. Due to officials’ negligence the situation has now spiraled out of control,” he said.
Health risks linked to the boom are equally alarming. E-rickshaw batteries contain toxic lead lead oxide and sulfuric acid. According to UNICEF Bangladesh ranks fourth globally for lead pollution which contributes to an estimated 30,000 premature deaths each year. Long-term exposure has also been linked to more than 138,000 adult deaths from cardiovascular disease. Most of these batteries are recycled informally further contaminating the environment.
“Even small amounts of lead can irreversibly harm children’s developing brains,” said public health specialist Dr. Lelin Chowdhury. Improper disposal of batteries contaminates food water and soil increasing the risks of cancer kidney and liver damage and premature births.
Sohanur Rahman executive coordinator of YouthNet Global described lead poisoning as a preventable crisis and urged immediate collective action. He called for classifying lead as a toxic substance conducting a national survey of lead levels shutting down unsafe recycling factories improving testing facilities amending existing laws and increasing public awareness.
Recommended measures include enforcing safe battery disposal restricting e-rickshaw numbers and routes in dense urban areas and introducing protective standards for lead-containing devices. Without decisive action Bangladesh risks worsening traffic chaos environmental degradation and a deepening public health crisis.
