How Rickshaw Pullers Keep Dhaka’s Informal Transport System Moving Despite Modern Alternatives

Rickshaws have been a marque of Dhaka's urban space, the lifeblood of the city's transport network for millions of people. They were brought in during the 1930s under the colonial regime, by the time they went out of markets in the post-partition era as the city grew large. Rickshaws had become indispensable in getting through Dhaka's narrow lanes and traffic-jammed roads, besides being economical and convenient for door-to-door service. The rickshaws are still very much alive and the mainstay of the city’s everyday life, economy, and cultural identity even with the increasing number of modern vehicles.

In 2025, the number of rickshaws plying the roads of Dhaka has reached a figure of six hundred thousand surpassing, with the number of people supported by the sector being close to one million. Rickshaws contribute to over thirty percent of the city's daily trips especially in places where public transport is not adequate. Although they are slow-moving, their dominance in local commuting cannot be doubted. For thousands of low-income workers, rickshaw pulling remains one of the few accessible ways to earn a livelihood in the ever-expanding informal economy.

Reasons behind the popularity of Rickshaws are their low costs, easy availability, and the fact that they can go through narrow and jammed roads without trouble. They not only offer door-to-door convenience, which buses or ride-sharing services cannot match, but also especially for short trips. For this, in the old city areas, rickshaws are the only viable transportation means due to the narrow or congested condition of the roads. Moreover, rickshaws are often the mode of transport for Women, elderly passengers and school children. as they feel safer and more personalized than crowded public vehicles.

In current times, the rickshaw sector in Dhaka was informal and poorly regulated. Most rickshaws remain unregistered while a large number of pullers do not have licenses or contracts of employment. Wages paid daily in cash are mostly based on complex rental arrangements with middlemen or garage owners. There is no insurance or pension scheme for the pullers. Thus, this massive informal network bypasses the law thereby exposing its workers to great exploitation and precariousness.

Because of the rise of ride-sharing apps, buses, or even CNG autorickshaws and motorbikes, rickshaws have not lost their place in the narrow and poor neighborhoods of Dhaka. They cannot reach the destination by any means through narrow lanes modern alternatives often fail to do so or provide affordable short-distance travel. Overcrowded buses and high rideshare costs for the city’s immense population keep most of the people on rickshaws which offer immediate transport that is both flexible and accessible. In slums, market areas, and old parts of the city, modern modes are outperformed by rickshaws because of their reach and affordability as well as adaptability to the chaotic traffic in Dhaka.

Rickshaw pulling still sustains hundreds of thousands of poor families in Dhaka. The pullers are primarily rural migrants with low education or other skill qualifications, therefore adopting this as a daily earning activity to support basic needs. Most do not own the rickshaws they drive; rather, they rent from small garage owners who also become part of this informal economy. One rickshaw can extend its benefit to more than one person by way of mechanics, renters, and repair shop workers-it is a survival tool for many.

In a city where air pollution through toxic gas of vehicles is a big issue, rickshaws offer a clean way to get around. Rickshaw's don’t release any harmful gases, also help reduce air pollution in Dhaka much more than cars, buses, or other vehicles that use compressed natural gas. In 2025, rickshaws provide a low-carbon alternative which helps millions of people's as more attention is given to environmental issues and eco-friendly transport system. For short trips, By using the rickshaws regularly, the city can create a more sustainable transport system, using less fuel and making less noise.

Dhaka's rickshaw pullers encounter endless obstacles without respite. A majority of workers endure twelve-hour daily shifts while lacking job security and access to health benefits as well as minimum wage protections. Through deceptive rental systems garage owners exploit them while they remain susceptible to police harassment and extortion. The prevalence of health problems resulting from excessive physical strain combined with inadequate nutrition and insufficient medical services is extensive. Even though they perform critical work their existence goes unnoticed by labor legislation which denies them official status and deprives them of fundamental rights and government assistance.

The urban development strategies in Dhaka persistently favor motorized transport systems which result in the marginalization of rickshaw services. Major transportation routes and infrastructure developments in 2025 implement both official bans and informal restrictions to prohibit rickshaw access. This action forces pullers into tightly packed zones where they face reduced income opportunities and heightened dangers. The design of flyovers, expressways, and rapid transit systems excludes non-motorized transport options which demonstrates a policy preference that neglects the transportation requirements of urban poor populations who rely on rickshaws for their daily commutes and livelihoods.

Rickshaws are more than just a transport. In the streets of the city, all of the rickshaw carries the talent and toughness of its puller, that is decorated with bright or Colorful paintings, many slogans, and motifs. Rickshaws are a common feature in daily life's alleys, marketplaces, schools, and residential areas. They have influenced human movement, socializing, and interaction throughout the city for ages. They still a well-loved and vital component of the cultural and human pace of Dhaka in 2025.

Policymakers need to recognize rickshaws as a reasonable and ecologically friendly form of transportation. Rather than excluding them, urban designs should include rickshaws into more general mobility systems, particularly for connectivity. Protecting rickshaw pullers rights, introducing regulation without criminalization, and upgrading infrastructure for mixed transport use would improve both mobility and livelihoods. Inclusive planning is essential in 2025 to build a city that values all commuters, not only users of motorized or premium means of transportation.

Rickshaw pullers and also the riders provide a glimpse into the human element of Dhaka's unorganized transportation network. The rickshaw pullers often voice worries about income volatility, lack of safety, and everyday exploitation, they keep working because of the lack of more viable alternatives. Conversely, passengers cherish rickshaws for their personal service, availability, and ease. These lived examples draw attention to the social and financial value of rickshaws, therefore stressing the necessity to acknowledge and assist those who maintain the operation.

Offering millions cheap, accessible, and ecofriendly transportation, rickshaws still play a critical role in Dhaka's urban scene. Though they endure bad working conditions and policy neglect, they daily serve the city. Building a just, sustainable, and people-centered urban transportation network depends on recognizing pullers worth via inclusive policies and fundamental protections.


MD. Noor Hamza Peash is an
LL.B. student in Department 
Of Law, World University 
of Bangladesh, Dhaka.