Battery-run rickshaw drivers give 72-hr ultimatum

CHITTAGONG, Apr 8: Battery-run rickshaw drivers and owners have threatened to launch nonstop hartal in Chittagong if their rickshaws are not allowed to operate within 72 hours from Wednesday.
 "We will go for nonstop shutdown in Chittagong if the battery-run rickshaws are not allowed to operate in the city within 72 hours from now," said Battery-run Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Shramik League general secretary Nurul Islam at a programme in front of Chittagong Press Club.
 The rickshaw operators formed a human chain in front of the club and leaders addressed a gathering of several thousand rickshaw owners and drivers.
 Islam said that they submitted their demands to the district administration and police administration in the city.
"We cannot ply rickshaws in the city for the last one month as the police commissioner and his forces are opposing. Who will maintain our families if we are not allowed. Is Commissioner Mandal a one-eyed man?" he said.
Presided over by president of the organization Swapan Biswas the function was also addressed among others by Mohammed Sohag, Biplob Dhar, Azizur Rahman Bhuiyan, Md Jafar and SM Aziz.
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