Auto-rickshaw drivers place 10-pt demand -

CNG-driven auto-rickshaw drivers at a human-chain programme on Friday placed a 10-point demand, including allowing them to operate auto-rickshaws on highways.

The drivers under the banner of Bangladesh CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Drivers' Sangram Parishad made the demands at the human-chain programme held in front of the National Press Club in the city.

Convener of Auto-rickshaw Drivers Sangram Parishad Sheikh Hanif said they would continue to wage their movement until their demands are met.

He also threatened to announce a tougher programme in future to press home their demands.

The demands include issuing registrations in favour of 3,196 drivers as they have deposited money with Bangladesh Bank, providing them with bank loans at nominal interest rate and fixing daily deposit at Tk 500 for the capital and Tk 300 outside the capital, stoppage of filing cases for no parking and solution to meter-related problems for auto-rickshaws, issuing appointment letters to the drivers by CNG owners, issuing new licences and renewing old ones at reasonable rates.

Besides, the drivers demanded building separate lanes to facilitate operation of CNG auto-rickshaws on highways, placing more zebra crossings, the setting up of road dividers, speed-breakers on the roads with visible signs, fixing 50 per cent toll for using bridges by them, stopping illegal toll collection from them on highways and building sanitary toilets on open spaces located under flyovers in Dhaka and Chattogram.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com