Even though many people have a car nowadays, also in Dhaka, rickshaws remain one of the most popular means of transport. They are cheap, and often able to pass the long rows of cars, which crowd the streets day and night. They are painted in the most beautiful colors, and many times there is some reference to Bollywood. In fact, they are so artistic, that there are shops, which specialize on "rickshaw art".
The rickshaw wallahs are normally not the owner of their vehicle, they rent it at a small sum and have to make up for that every day, before they can start earning their very tiny salary. If something happens to the rickshaw, like an accident or a policeman hitting it with his nailed stick, that is a major disaster, of which I unfortunately have seen many.
The rain does not stop the rickshaws from going; the rickshaw wallahs put plastic bags on their heads for protection, but furthermore get soaking wet. Their passengers try to hide themselves behind their umbrellas.

The rickshaw wallahs are normally strong (mostly young) men with muscled legs; they prefer to wear a lunghi. If it rains, they sometimes completely cover themselves in plastic bags.
On the airport, there is a rickshaw on display, and the sign which accompanies it states, that the word "rickshaw' comes from the Japanese "Jin Riki Sha" but that the origin lies in Europe. Apparently, the rickshaws have been cycling in Dhaka from the 1930's and originated from Mymensingh.

Nepali people also use rickshaws,
but they do not paint them so colourfully.