Dhaka, Sep 6 (IANS) They weave in and out of the traffic, as much a part of the streetscape as the people and the vehicles. With 400,000 rickshaws plying its busy streets, it's no wonder that some describe Dhaka as the rickshaw capital of the world.


Cycle rickshaws and autorickshaws are the main mode of transport in the Bangladesh capital, playing host to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his delegation for two days.

About 400,000 rickshaws are on the crowded streets daily - the largest number for any city in the world. However, only about 80,000 rickshaws are licensed, say police.

Comparatively low-cost and non-polluting, cycle rickshaws cause traffic congestion and have been banned from many parts of the city.

Any visitor to Dhaka, which has a population of over 12 million, is struck by the large number of rickshaws.