Hundreds of battery-run rickshaw drivers and workers are demonstrating by blocking the roads in various locations across Dhaka city, demanding the withdrawal of last week’s High Court order that sought steps to immediately remove the three-wheelers from the capital’s streets due to safety concerns.
The areas include the National Press Club, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur, Dhaka Udyan, Basila, Shahbagh, Science Laboratory, Dhanmondi, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-2, and Agargaon.
Vehicular movement in these areas has been severely disrupted, forcing commuters to walk or find alternative ways to go to their destinations.
Small groups of drivers and workers came in processions from different parts of the city and gathered in front of the National Press Club at around 11am today (24 November) for a rally, which was announced by the Rickshaw, Van and Easybike Sramik Union yesterday (23 November).
Organising the rally with the union, the Battery-run Rickshaw Drivers-Owners Association erected a temporary stage in front of the club, where leaders addressed the programme with their demands in between cultural performances.
The rally heavily disrupted vehicular movement in Matsya Bhaban, Hare Road, and areas around the Press Club, said Mehedi Shakil, assistant commissioner (AC – traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Shahbagh zone.
However, the protesters left the Press Club area and gathered at Central Shaheed Minar at Dhaka University at around 1:30pm.
Earlier in the morning, armed with sticks, several hundred protesters blocked the busy Jatrabari intersection and stopped vehicular movement at around 10:45am, said AC of DMP’s Jatrabari Traffic zone Akhtaruzzaman.
“They are demanding the withdrawal of the High Court order. To ease the congestion, traffic has been diverted via the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover,” he added.
Locals claimed the agitated protesters attacked some other vehicles’ drivers, passersby, and nearby establishments.
However, the traffic situation started returning to normal in the Jatrabari intersection and Kajla areas at around 1:20pm after battery-run rickshaw drivers and workers left the streets, said Mostain Billah, AC (traffic) of DMP’s Demra zone.
Before they left, at around 11:55am, a chase and counter-chase took place between two factions of demonstrators, he said, adding, “Several vehicles were damaged by the agitated protesters at the Jatrabari intersection.”
Earlier in the morning, a similar scene unfolded in different spots of Mohammadpur, including Mohammadpur bus stand, Basila and Dhaka Udyan, where drivers and workers gathered to voice their grievances.
Additionally, other groups are also attempting to barricade the roads in the areas mentioned above, according to witnesses.
A group of protesters vandalised some trucks and vehicles in the Mohammadpur bus stand area at the time.
At around 2pm, another group of rickshaw drivers and workers were seen gathering on the road in front of the Election Commission office at Agargaon.
The protests, which started last Thursday (21 November) and have been taking place every day since, stems from a High Court order issued on 19 November, directing authorities to halt the movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws within three days.
Yesterday, the Rickshaw, Battery Rickshaw-Van, and Easybike Sangram Parishad at a rally issued a seven-day ultimatum for authorities concerned to finalise a guideline formulated specifically for them to operate on Dhaka streets.
Demanding a re-evaluation of the High Court order, the drivers and workers sought permission to operate following the implementation of the guideline. They also presented a seven-point charter of demands aimed at resolving their challenges and securing their livelihoods.
