72-hr auto-rickshaw strike underway in city

The 72-hour CNG-run auto-rickshaw strike, enforced by Dhaka Metropolitan CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Malik Samity Oikya Parishad, demanding extension of economic lifespan of the vehicle by 4 years more, was underway in Dhaka city on Tuesday. The parishad announced to observe the 72-hour strike from an emergency meeting held at its temporary office in the city on Monday. No auto-rickshaw was seen plying the roads of the city after the strike started in the morning. But the CNG-run auto-rickshaws for private use were playing the roads as usual. Earlier, member secretary of the Oikya Parishad ATM Nazmul Hasan said the Mechanical Engineering Department of Buet recommended extending the economic lifetime of three-wheelers to 15 years after testing the vehicles six months ago. Even a nine-member committee formed by the Communications Ministry also suggested extending the life term by four years, he added. Despite the recommendations of Buet and the ministerial committee, no decision was taken in this regard yet due to bureaucratic tangles, Nazmul alleged, according to UNB.