NN Online:
The Battery-run auto-rickshaw, Van and Easybike Sramik Union has called off their movement upon assurance from the police administration of addressing their demands.
Joint Secretary of the Sramik union Ariful Islam said deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has assured them of resolving their problems, reports UNB.
“A delegation from the union will meet DMP officials on Monday to discuss the ongoing issue, and we hope a solution will come out from the meeting,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said, another delegation of the union met Attorney General Md Asaduzzman in this regard and a writ petition would be submitted against the High Court order.
The union leader hoped that the issue would be resolved soon.
Earlier in the morning, drivers of auto-rickshaws took to several streets of Dhaka to press home their 11-point demand, including obtaining licenses from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to operate on city streets.
Commuters, particularly those travelling for emergencies, faced severe difficulties reaching their destinations as protesters blocked several roads, including those near the Jatiya Press Club (JPC), Jatrabari, Beribadh, and Tin Rastar Morr.
According to UNB reporters, hundreds of drivers gathered at Beribadh, one of Dhaka’s entry points, on Sunday morning and marched towards the JPC in a procession.
Besides, drivers from other parts of Dhaka converged at the JPC and staged a sit-in programme to press their demands.
The blockade in front of the JPC caused numerous vehicles to remain stranded, leading to immense suffering for commuters.
On Thursday, several hundred auto-rickshaw drivers blockaded various streets in Dhaka, causing immense suffering for city dwellers.
That afternoon, the protesters issued a two-day ultimatum for their demands to be met, which expired on Saturday. As per their prior announcement, the protesters returned to the streets today.
Earlier, a High Court order banned auto-rickshaws from operating on city streets, citing public safety concerns.
