Train passengers undergo untold sufferings at Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka because of a schedule collapse following a blockade on Mohakhali railway and other roads set up by hundreds of drivers of battery-run auto-rickshaws for six hours on Thursday in protest against their restricted movement in the metropolitan area. — FE Photo by Shafiqul Alam Blockade by battery-operated rickshaw drivers caused severe traffic gridlock in different parts of the capital on Thursday, causing immense sufferings for commuters.
During the protests, rickshaw drivers engaged in clashes with members of law-enforcement agencies while several vehicles, including that of law enforcers, were also vandalised.
In Mohakhali area, the rickshaw drivers blocked roads and railway tracks on 9:00 am, demanding that the government should allow them to drive rickshaws across Dhaka. When policemen attempted to break up the protesters blocking the railway line, they retaliated by throwing bricks and stones, leading to a clash with the law enforcers.
Several vehicles were damaged while adjacent areas also witnessed acts of vandalism. During the blockade, train services between Dhaka and the rest of the country were suspended.
Superintendent of Railway Police in Dhaka Anwar Hossain said that the rickshaw drivers parked their three-wheelers across train tracks and blocked nearby roads, bringing traffic to a halt.
In Agargaon, similar protests continued until around 12:30 pm on the day, causing severe traffic disruption.
Officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Mohammad Azam stated that traffic movement was suspended in the surrounding areas until the protesters were cleared.
Rickshaw-drivers also blocked roads in Bashila while similar demonstrations were reported in Mirpur, Gabtoli, Rampura, Demra, Malibagh and other areas of the country.
The protests followed a High Court directive issued on Tuesday to ban or regulate the operation of battery-driven rickshaws in Dhaka within three days.
It may be mentioned that Afsana Karim, a student of Jahangirnagar University, met her tragic end on Tuesday evening after being hit by a battery-powered rickshaw on the campus. The incident sparked outrage among students, leading to demonstrations demanding stricter regulations.
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