Bangladesh

Battery-run rickshaws: Drivers again block roads in key city areas

Govt moves to challenge HC order that prohibits plying of such vehicles

Battery-run rickshaw drivers again blocked streets in several key areas of the capital yesterday, demanding that the High Court order to stop such vehicles from plying the  city streets be withdrawn.

They also held a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club to realise their 12-point demand.

Amid the protests, the government decided to move a petition before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the HC order.

"We are preparing a petition against the High Court order. We may move the petition before the chamber judge of the Appellate Division today," Deputy Attorney General Nur Muhammad Azami told The Daily Star.

He said the stay petition will contain a ground that allowing battery-run rickshaws or auto-rickshaws on the streets is a policy decision of the government and therefore, the HC cannot interfere in it.

Battery-run rickshaw protests in Dhaka
Photo: Palash Khan

On November 20, the HC directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to stop the battery-run three wheelers from plying the city streets within three days. The order aimed to reduce road accidents.

PROTEST

Around 11:30am yesterday, thousands of drivers gathered on the street in front of the Jatiya Press Club to press home their 12-point demand, halting traffic in the Paltan, Press Club, and High Court areas.

They held the rally under the banner of the Rickshaw-Van-Easy Bike Workers Union.

At the rally, Mujahidul Islam Selim, former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, demanded that the HC order against the battery-run rickshaws be withdrawn. He also demanded a decision on alternative source of income for the drivers.

Battery-operated rickshaw protests today in Dhaka
Photo: Prabir Das

After the rally ended around 1:00pm, the rickshaw drivers left the road and went to the Central Shaheed Minar.

Earlier, Abdul Kuddus, general secretary of Rickshaw-Van-Easy Bike Workers Union, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police proposed a meeting at the DMP headquarters at 11:00am today to discuss the regulations for operating the battery-powered rickshaws. The DMP commissioner already asked them to attend the meeting, he said.

Battery-run rickshaw drivers also took to the streets in the Agargaon, Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, and Jatiya Press Club areas yesterday, causing significant disruption to traffic.

According to witnesses, the rickshaw drivers began assembling in these areas in the morning. Later, they blocked the streets and started demonstrating, leading to heavy traffic congestion, particularly in Mohammadpur's Tin Rastar Mor area.

Thousands of battery-run rickshaw pullers gathered near the National Press Club in the capital to press home their demand yesterday afternoon. Many others occupied the streets in Agargaon, Mohammadpur and Jatrabari, causing disruptions to traffic. PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN

People faced huge difficulties in their movement. Police were seen trying to persuade the rickshaw drivers to clear the roads.

Shafiqul Islam, one of the protesters in Agargaon, told this newspaper that they gathered in front of the Election Commission office in Agargaon and planned to march to Mirpur-10 in a procession.

Dhaka traffic blocked by battery rickshaws
Photo: Amran Hossain

Asked about their demands, he said, "Our only demand is that the operation of battery-run rickshaws cannot be stopped without the rehabilitation of the drivers. This is a matter of bread and butter for many people."

Hafizur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Mohammadpur Police Station, said that the drivers have been blocking streets at Mirpur Beribandh, Dhaka Udyan, and Tin Rastar More since 11:00am. This caused severe congestion in Mohammadpur, Mirpur, and Gabtoli.

Comments

Battery-run rickshaws: Drivers again block roads in key city areas

Govt moves to challenge HC order that prohibits plying of such vehicles

Battery-run rickshaw drivers again blocked streets in several key areas of the capital yesterday, demanding that the High Court order to stop such vehicles from plying the  city streets be withdrawn.

They also held a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club to realise their 12-point demand.

Amid the protests, the government decided to move a petition before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the HC order.

"We are preparing a petition against the High Court order. We may move the petition before the chamber judge of the Appellate Division today," Deputy Attorney General Nur Muhammad Azami told The Daily Star.

He said the stay petition will contain a ground that allowing battery-run rickshaws or auto-rickshaws on the streets is a policy decision of the government and therefore, the HC cannot interfere in it.

Battery-run rickshaw protests in Dhaka
Photo: Palash Khan

On November 20, the HC directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to stop the battery-run three wheelers from plying the city streets within three days. The order aimed to reduce road accidents.

PROTEST

Around 11:30am yesterday, thousands of drivers gathered on the street in front of the Jatiya Press Club to press home their 12-point demand, halting traffic in the Paltan, Press Club, and High Court areas.

They held the rally under the banner of the Rickshaw-Van-Easy Bike Workers Union.

At the rally, Mujahidul Islam Selim, former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, demanded that the HC order against the battery-run rickshaws be withdrawn. He also demanded a decision on alternative source of income for the drivers.

Battery-operated rickshaw protests today in Dhaka
Photo: Prabir Das

After the rally ended around 1:00pm, the rickshaw drivers left the road and went to the Central Shaheed Minar.

Earlier, Abdul Kuddus, general secretary of Rickshaw-Van-Easy Bike Workers Union, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police proposed a meeting at the DMP headquarters at 11:00am today to discuss the regulations for operating the battery-powered rickshaws. The DMP commissioner already asked them to attend the meeting, he said.

Battery-run rickshaw drivers also took to the streets in the Agargaon, Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, and Jatiya Press Club areas yesterday, causing significant disruption to traffic.

According to witnesses, the rickshaw drivers began assembling in these areas in the morning. Later, they blocked the streets and started demonstrating, leading to heavy traffic congestion, particularly in Mohammadpur's Tin Rastar Mor area.

Thousands of battery-run rickshaw pullers gathered near the National Press Club in the capital to press home their demand yesterday afternoon. Many others occupied the streets in Agargaon, Mohammadpur and Jatrabari, causing disruptions to traffic. PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN

People faced huge difficulties in their movement. Police were seen trying to persuade the rickshaw drivers to clear the roads.

Shafiqul Islam, one of the protesters in Agargaon, told this newspaper that they gathered in front of the Election Commission office in Agargaon and planned to march to Mirpur-10 in a procession.

Dhaka traffic blocked by battery rickshaws
Photo: Amran Hossain

Asked about their demands, he said, "Our only demand is that the operation of battery-run rickshaws cannot be stopped without the rehabilitation of the drivers. This is a matter of bread and butter for many people."

Hafizur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Mohammadpur Police Station, said that the drivers have been blocking streets at Mirpur Beribandh, Dhaka Udyan, and Tin Rastar More since 11:00am. This caused severe congestion in Mohammadpur, Mirpur, and Gabtoli.

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আওয়ামী লীগ নামে কেউ বাংলাদেশে রাজনীতি করতে পারবে না: সালাহউদ্দিন আহমেদ

তিনি বলেন, গণহত্যা ও মানবতাবিরোধী অপরাধের জন্য রাজনৈতিক সংগঠন হিসেবে আওয়ামী লীগের বিচার দাবি করছি।

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