CHITTAGONG, August 29: Battery-run rickshaw owners and drivers in the port-city Friday protested a move of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) to ban the three-wheelers, violating a stay order of the High Court.
Leaders of Chattagram Mohanagar Battery-run Rickshaw Chalak Malik Federation, a body of five registered organisations of rickshaw owners and drivers, organised a press conference in this regard at the Chittagong Press Club (CPC).
They said they will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the DC of Chittagong on September 1, and form human chain in front of CPC on September 4. Besides, they will organise demonstration and lay siege to the city mayor's residence on September 6.
The leaders also said around 15,500 CNG-run auto-rickshaws are operating in the port-city without valid documents. But CMP did not take any legal action against those illegal auto-rickshaws.
Most of the roads in the port-city are elevated, for which pedalled rickshaw-pullers cannot ply those roads with two passengers on board. So owners of pedalled rickshaws have turned their vehicles into battery-run ones. It has also facilitated thousands of aged rickshaw operators to earn a livelihood, they added.
"We have turned the pedalled rickshaws into battery-run ones with imported spare parts. Fares of these rickshaws are also lesser than those of the pedalled ones. Most people prefer the battery-run rickshaws for their speed," Md Salamat Ullah, president of the federation, mentioned in his written statement.
They said some 75,000 battery-run rickshaw operators, living from hand to mouth with their family members, will be in dire straits, and be deprived of their right to livelihood, if they are not allowed to continue their job.
"The Prime Minister has announced building the Digital Bangladesh. We have been inspired by her announcement, and got duly registered with the agencies concerned to run battery-run rickshaws," said Swapan Biswas, general secretary of the federation.
He further said some vested quarters, especially the CNG-run auto-rickshaw owners and drivers, filed a case with the court against plying the battery-run rickshaws.
Following a submission of the federation, the High Court issued a 'status quo' order on the matter that remains valid till now.
The CNG-run autos and pedalled rickshaw-pullers have been realising excessive fares for long, holding the commuters hostage. The passengers prefer the battery-run rickshaws to reach their destinations quickly at comparatively lower cost, he added.
