City Terrorized by Auto-Rickshaw Drivers, Private Car Owners Demand No Road Tax!

The call to boycott road taxes by private car owners is gaining traction on social media, sparked by frustration over battery-powered auto-rickshaws clogging main roads. Popular actress Rukaiya Jahan Chamak recently posted, “If battery-powered auto-rickshaws are allowed on main roads, I won’t pay my car’s road tax!” Her statement has gone viral, with countless posts flooding social media platforms, racking up likes, comments, and shares.

But is it even possible for vehicles to ply the roads without paying taxes? The answer is a resounding no. Driving without valid tax documents invites trouble from traffic police, leading to fines and legal cases. For many Dhaka residents, owning a car is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Yet, car owners are burdened with annual taxes ranging from BDT 35,000 to BDT 250,000, depending on the vehicle’s engine capacity. Those owning multiple vehicles face an additional tax of BDT 50,000 per year.

Meanwhile, battery-powered auto-rickshaws, often operating without licenses, are accused of causing chaos. Investigations reveal that many of these rickshaw garages lack proper documentation or electricity meters. Reliable sources indicate that garage owners, in collusion with corrupt electricity department officials, use illegal connections to charge hundreds of rickshaws daily, contributing to excessive power consumption. This has led to widespread load-shedding across the country, particularly affecting rural areas where farmers struggle to irrigate crops and students face disruptions in their studies due to power outages. Shockingly, sources claim that many auto-rickshaw drivers in the capital are former members of the banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, now operating under the guise of rickshaw drivers to evade authorities. Their aggressive behavior, including abusive language and inciting public unrest, has been likened to the actions of the outlawed group. Just a few years ago, rickshaw drivers were known for their courteous demeanor, but today, their conduct is often described as shameful. These auto-rickshaws frequently invade main roads, VIP zones, flyovers, and even expressways, causing hundreds of accidents daily. Reports suggest that 90% of road accidents in the country are directly linked to these battery-powered vehicles, with an average of five fatalities per day attributed to their reckless driving.

The issue demands urgent attention from authorities. The identities of these drivers must be scrutinized, and the menace of battery-powered auto-rickshaws addressed. If left unchecked, the growing movement among car owners to refuse road taxes could spark a national debate, putting pressure on the government to act.