COVID-19 Burdens on Livelihood Opportunities: A Study of Easy-Bike Drivers in Rangpur City, Bangladesh

Khan Rubayet Rahaman, Bishawjit Mallick, Rupkatha Priodarshini, Woakimul Islam Shakil and Md. Zakir Hossain
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Khan Rubayet Rahaman: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, St. Mary’s University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada
Bishawjit Mallick: Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Rupkatha Priodarshini: International Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Development (ICCCAD), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
Woakimul Islam Shakil: Independent Researcher, Rangpur 5404, Bangladesh
Md. Zakir Hossain: Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

World, 2022, vol. 3, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: This research explores the nexus between COVID-19 and the livelihoods of easy-bike (three-wheeler human hauliers) drivers using a case study of Rangpur City, Bangladesh. Although easy-bike has become a prevalent form of paratransit among city-dwellers in medium-sized cities in Bangladesh, many passengers are now avoiding such paratransit to maintain health and safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has negatively affected easy-bike drivers’ income in many medium-sized cities. To conduct this study, we collected primary data from the field, with the health and safety guidelines recommended by the government of Bangladesh in consideration. The results demonstrate a decreasing number of trips due to government policy changes under the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing people’s earnings associated with this transit system. We summarized the data to capture the attention of policymakers, who may need to introduce any foreseeable action to assist workers of different professions in need of economic assistance in cities outside of the capital city in Bangladesh. Moreover, we suggest the need to consider these urban transport workers as a vulnerable group for livelihood assistance within the country.

Keywords: livelihood; COVID-19; three wheelers; poverty; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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