Auto-rickshaw Free Nikunja Becomes a Symbol of Public Awakening

Special Correspondent : The capital city of Dhaka is a symbol of unsafe speed—where the unrestrained dominance of battery-powered auto-rickshaws is becoming a death trap for citizens every day. From school-going children to elderly pedestrians, no one is safe from the danger posed by these uncontrolled vehicles. Like almost every area of the capital, the roads of Nikunja once faced such perilous conditions.

But surprisingly, today the Nikunja-Tanpara area has turned into a unique example—a completely auto-rickshaw-free zone.
This is not a government order, nor is it a sudden administrative campaign—it is the result of public unity, proving that organized willpower can overcome any administrative weakness. For a long time, battery-powered auto-rickshaws moved freely in this area, which on one hand endangered the lives of pedestrians and on the other created terrible chaos in the traffic system. Students commuting to schools and colleges faced this risk every day. Despite a series of accidents, the administration took no permanent action.

To put an end to this situation, the local residents took to the streets. A long struggle—the fight to implement an ‘Auto-rickshaw-Free Nikunja’—began through the unified movement of the Khilkhet Tanpara Welfare Society, local teachers, businessmen, journalist and general residents.
The fight of the Nikunja residents was not easy. Various obstacles arose at the beginning of the movement. The battery-powered rickshaw owners and some influential groups, under political patronage, tried to disrupt the initiative. Even the leaders of the movement were threatened and intimidated using the names of the army and the administration. But the unity of the locals and the strong leadership of the Welfare Society broke this resistance.

Senior journalist Jahid Ikbal, the driving force behind the movement to ban auto-rickshaws in Nikunja, told this correspondent, “Initially, many scoffed at the demand to stop auto-rickshaws. We were told, ‘This is impossible in Dhaka city.’ But we knew—nothing is impossible if the people desire it wholeheartedly.”

The biggest achievement of this people-led movement is that not a single auto-rickshaw accident has occurred in Nikunja in the last six months. This is not just a local statistic; it is a ray of hope for the entire country’s road safety movement. Where battery-powered rickshaws cannot be controlled even with the strict presence of traffic police in areas like Gulshan, Banani, or Mirpur, the banning of auto-rickshaws by the spontaneous decision of the people is a revolutionary event.

The prohibition of auto-rickshaws in Nikunja has brought about a noticeable change in the area’s lifestyle. Previously, the scenes in front of schools, markets, or at major road junctions in the morning and evening were filled with traffic congestion, noise pollution, and chaos. Now, there is an air of order, tranquility, and safety. Parents can send their children to school without worry, and the elderly walk fearlessly along the sidewalks.

This change has had the greatest impact on the lives of pedal rickshaw pullers. For a long time, they were on the verge of losing their jobs due to the dominance of battery-powered rickshaws. The competition on the same road was uneven. But the situation has now changed. Pedal rickshaw pullers have regained work, respect, and financial relief. One driver stated, “I didn’t even earn Tk 300 a day before; now I get Tk 800-1000. Without battery rickshaws, the road is open, fares have increased, and there is less hassle.”

The example of Nikunja is not limited to civic initiatives; the administration has also respected the public’s decision here. Khilkhet Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Sazzad Hossain said, “The unity of the Nikunja residents is an inspiration for us. Their demand is fair, and the administration cannot do anything alone without their cooperation. We stand by this public initiative.” This is the kind of cooperative mentality that is yet to be seen in other areas.

On the other hand, political leaders also agreed on this movement. Md. Shahinur Alam Marfat, former president of Khilkhet Thana BNP, said, “Although we have many different political opinions or philosophies, we all stood together for the sake of Nikunja. Because this is not a party matter; it is a movement to save lives.”
Similarly, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Principal of Nikunja Model College, stated, “We must spread this consciousness among our generation. A society that believes in unity gives birth to progress, not accidents.”

The Nikunja model for stopping battery-powered auto-rickshaws is a beacon for urban life in Bangladesh today.
More than 70,000 battery-powered auto-rickshaws are operating illegally in Dhaka, none of which have registration or trained drivers. A large portion of them violate traffic rules, drive in opposite lanes, and even occupy sidewalks. Consequently, countless people are injured every day. The people of Nikunja did not accept this reality and took control themselves. They have shown that where the people understand their responsibility, the power of the administration is manifold.
Today, there is no harsh sound of auto-rickshaws in Nikunja, no risk of sudden braking, and no uncontrolled competition. Children now cycle to school, and the elderly walk peacefully in the evening. There is a kind of silent peace throughout the area, which was once unimaginable in any other part of Dhaka. Local shopkeepers say, “Auto-rickshaws used to stand in front of the shops all day, now the road is open. People walk without worry, and sales are increasing.”

The success of Nikunja is now making people in other parts of the capital think. Many residents of Uttara, Badda, Jatrabari, Mirpur, and Mohammadpur are now saying that the ‘Nikunja Model’ must be followed. Civic organizations in many areas have already started discussing this initiative.

An auto-rickshaw-free Nikunja is not just a local change; it is a milestone in Bangladesh’s road safety movement. It proves that safe roads are not solely the government’s responsibility; it is also a civic duty. And if the people want it, any impossible task can be achieved through unity.

Peace is blowing on the streets of Nikunja today, where every step reminds us that no chaos can stand before the iron-hard unity of the people.