Dhaka, May 12 -- The soft jingle of rickshaw bells weaving through the bustling alleys and traffic-choked arteries of Dhaka has long been a signature sound of the city's heartbeat.

From dawn to the deep hours of night, these humble three-wheelers - both pedal-powered and battery-run - remain an inseparable thread in the capital's urban fabric.

Yet, as the megacity steadily advances towards modernity, the continued presence of these iconic vehicles has sparked fervent debate.

At the heart of the discourse lies a pressing question: Can Dhaka ever become truly rickshaw-free?

A Choking Gridlock

Although precise figures remain elusive due to the absence of a comprehensive survey, urban experts estimate that nearly one million rickshaws pl...