Rickshaw-pullers block road protesting rickshaw ban

A day after a ban was imposed on rickshaw on three major roads in Dhaka, hundreds of rickshaw-pullers took positions at several points from Uttara to Sayedabad in the capital this morning to protest the restriction.

They gathered and blockaded roads at Maniknagar, Mugda, Gulabbagh and Sayedabad points around 8:30am, halting traffic movements in the area, our staff correspondent reports quoting Anwar Hossain, deputy commissioner (DC) of police, Motijheel Division.

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The pullers were chanting slogans demanding withdrawal of rickshaw ban by the authorities.

“This is a one-sided decision by the authorities without any consideration about the livelihood of the pullers who have been plying their vehicles on the route for a long time,” said a protesting rickshaw-puller, Saidur Rahman.

A long tailback has been created on a road in Dhaka city due to a blockade enforced by hundreds of rickshaw pullers on Monday, July 8, 2019. Photo: Prabir Das

Another rickshaw-puller Md Tutul said that they cannot accept the ban. “If necessary, the authorities can make a third lane only for rickshaws,” he said.

The protest was continuing till 12:45pm when the report was filed.

Meanwhile, regular commuters were suffering immensely for lack of transportation. Many opted to reach their destination on foot.

DC Anwar Hosen said police were trying to resolve the issue peacefully.

“We are trying to convince the protesters so that they leave the road,” he added.

On July 3, a special committee led by Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon decided that three major streets would be made off-limits to rickshaws, in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the areas.

The roads are: Kuril to Sayedabad via Rampura and Khilgaon; Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate; and Science Laboratory intersection to Shahbagh intersection.