Rickshaw Pullers and the Cycle of Unsustainability in Dhaka City
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M. Maksudur Rahman
M. Maksudur Rahman
University of Dhaka
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Md. Assadekjaman
Md. Assadekjaman
University of Dhaka
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Rickshaw pullers are key to sustaining urban mobility in Dhaka city. Yet they are among the most marginalized members of society. Pullers live in precarious urban environments and struggle to rise out of a chronic poverty trap. In their work they face the daily challenges of restrictions on their activities, harassment from passengers and the traffic police, traffic jams and accidents. This article explores the factors which contribute to the unsustainable lifestyles of rickshaw pullers in Dhaka city. It suggests that rickshaw pullers might be supported better through licenses, economic incentives, and by prioritizing their contribution to improving Dhaka's traffic system.