Staff Reporter :
Pedal rickshaw pullers in the capital staged a protest at Shahbagh on Monday, demanding a ban on battery-powered autorickshaws from operating on the city’s main roads. They issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the government to enforce the ban.
The rickshaw pullers blocked the Shahbagh intersection for about two hours, from 10:00 am to 12:15 pm, to press their demands. During the protest, they chanted slogans such as “Illegal autorickshaws will not be allowed to run” and “No tolerance for discrimination in Bangladesh.”
Demonstrations were also held in other parts of the capital, including Manik Mia Avenue and Karwan Bazar. The protesters argued that the increasing presence of battery-powered rickshaws on the roads is severely affecting their livelihoods, as they struggle to compete with these faster vehicles.
“Pedal rickshaws used to earn enough fare when battery-run rickshaws were not allowed on Dhaka’s main roads,” said Mobarak Ali, a rickshaw puller. “Now, we get much less as these battery-run rickshaws ply freely across the capital. Our demand is simple, and the solution is too. We are giving the government 72 hours to implement it.”
The protesters shouted slogans such as “No more autorickshaws (batterly-run),” “Illegal autorickshaws will not be tolerated,” and “We won’t accept discrimination in Bangladesh.”
Organized under the banner of the ‘Greater Dhaka City Corporation Rickshaw Owners’ Unity Alliance,’ the rickshaw drivers presented several demands.
Their demands include issuing new licenses and renewing old ones for rickshaw owners from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), similar to the practices of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). They also called for driver licenses to be granted by both the DNCC and DSCC to boost government revenue and safeguard the rights of legally licensed rickshaw drivers. Additionally, the protesters demanded free medical treatment for unwell drivers and the issuance of business trade licenses to licensed rickshaw drivers in both city corporations.
The pedalled rickshaw drivers expressed frustration over battery-run rickshaws, accusing them of undercutting fares, flouting traffic regulations, and contributing to congestion and accidents.
They argued that the dominance of battery-run rickshaws on main roads threatens their livelihoods and exacerbates traffic problems.
Shahbagh Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) AKM Shahabuddin Shaheen said that the rickshaw drivers had gathered on the road with their demands.
“After some time, the police dispersed them, and the situation is now normal with traffic moving smoothly,” he added.