Commuters heading for their respective destinations on foot as vehicles were caught in a severe traffic jam on the Khilgaon flyover in the city on Monday, when rickshaw pullers blockaded some city points over the ban imposed on the tricycles on three roads — Fe photo by KAZ Sumon Several hundred agitated rickshaw-pullers demonstrated at different points of Uttara-Sayedabad route in the city on Monday protesting the ban on the movement of rickshaws on three major city roads.
The two city corporations imposed the restrictions with effect from Sunday.
The rickshaw-pullers gathered at Khilgaon, Maniknagar, Mugda, Golapbagh, Buddha Mandir and Sayedabad points at around 8:30am and blocked the roads, halting traffic movement for hours.
As a result, commuters, especially office-goers, students and working people, had to face immense suffering amid downpour, witnesses said.
Insur Ali, general secretary of Jatiya Rickshaw Van Sramik League, said local rickshaw-pullers and owners took position in different areas but his organisation tried to convince them to withdraw their agitation.
He also said that he did not support such a demonstration as it disrupts traffic movements and causes suffering to commuters.
Police Inspector (operation) Ayan Mahmud of Jatrabari police station told the FE that the demonstration was largely peaceful and there was no report of any untoward incident.
Also, no rickshaw plied the roads in the area, he added.
In a bid to ease traffic congestion, the city corporations made three roads -- Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate, Science Lab to Shahbagh and Kuril to Sayadabad via Rampura and Khilgaon -- off-limits to rickshaws.
The restrictions, however, drew mixed reactions from commuters.
During a spot visit on Monday, this correspondent found many such non-motorised three-wheelers plying some parts of the Gabtoli-Science Lab route defying the restrictions.
Talking to the FE, some commuters argue that alternative arrangements should be in place before imposing such restrictions.
On the other hand, some others justified the ban on the grounds that the slow-moving three-wheelers create nagging traffic jams on the city streets.
Swapna, 40, a housewife who along with her seven-year-old daughter was waiting for a rickshaw for a long time near Kalyanpur bus stop expressed dissatisfaction over sudden rickshaw ban on the Mirpur road.
She said she used rickshaws regularly to drop off her daughter at her school and also on way back home. Now, such a ban would put her into trouble, she added.
Salekin, who is working with a private firm, said rickshaws should not be allowed on the Mirpur Road to avoid traffic jam. But a good number of rickshaws were still seen on the road.
The traffic police should take a strict measure to keep rickshaws off this important road, he said while talking to the FE at the Science Lab traffic signal.
Sub-Inspector Tariqul, who was on duty at Kalyanpur bus stop, said some rickshaws were still plying the road illegally, but they would not be able to do so in the coming days, as the police have taken stringent measures to this end.
Asked, Manik, a rickshaw-puller, who was pulling his rickshaw on the Mirpur road said he was not aware of the restriction.
But such a restriction would put him into trouble as he came to the capital from Gaibandha district and started pulling rickshaw to earn bread for his five-member family, he said.
He urged the government to withdraw the ban so that he can earn a livelihood. Nazrul Islam, a police constable, who was on duty at Asad Gate traffic signal, said a few rickshaws are still plying, but it will take some time to fully stop their movement.
Habib, a traffic police sergeant, who was on duty near Science Lab traffic signal, said he found no rickshaw plying the road from 8:00am to 11:30am.
The police are always ready to keep rickshaws off the road, he told the FE.
On Saturday, the Rickshaw-van Owners' Federation at a press conference urged the authorities concerned to withdraw the ban.
The number of rickshaws has increased manifold in the city due to the absence of regulations and a dearth of public transport.
The authorities have not given licences to the three-wheelers since 1986, but a number of organsations patronised by political parties in connivance with the police run illegal rickshaws and battery-run rickshaws.
It is believed around 600,000 rickshaws are in the capital, which are often blamed for the city's perennial traffic chaos.
Meanwhile, the Jatri kalyan Parishad, a platform of commuters, in a statement demanded that the authorities launch sufficient public buses to overcome the shortage of transport in the city.
It also suggested taking measures to control private vehicles in order to ensure an efficient transport system.
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