Daylong Dhaka chaos ends with pause in demos

Daylong traffic chaos in Dhaka ended in a pause as drivers of battery-run rickshaws postponed their mass sit-in staged outside the National Press Club Sunday to realise their 12-point demands, including resumption of rickshaw run in streets.
However, their latest step has normalised traffic in the crammed capital city.
They will announce their next course of action after a meeting with DMP commissioner Sheikh Sajjad Ali today (Monday).
The decision came from Sunday's sit-in programme, addressed by political leaders also, including CPB's Mujahidul Islam Selim, in solidarity with the protesters.
Khalequzzaman Lipon, convener of the Rickshaw, Battery-run Rickshaw, Easy Bike Sangram Parishad, said, "The Rickshaw-Van-Easy Bike Workers Union will hold a meeting with the DMP commissioner at 11:00 am on Monday.
"After the meeting," he added, "a decision will be taken on the next course of action."
Earlier in the day, thousands of auto-rickshaw drivers blocked roads in Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, Mirpur, Kamrangirchar and National Press Club areas, causing severe congestion and widespread public sufferings in Dhaka.
After blocking the roads for more than two hours, they moved away from the National Press Club and Jatrabari areas.
Around 1:30 pm, the protesters left the press club and massed the Central Shaheed Minar premises. At the same time, they also left Jatrabari and Kajla areas, thereby easing traffic movement.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to appeal against a High Court order banning battery-operated rickshaws in Dhaka metropolis, said a spokesperson for the chief adviser.
"We expect a positive decision from the Supreme Court on this matter," said Azad Mazumder, deputy press secretary to the CA, while briefing the press.
In the morning, deputy attorney-general Nur Mohammad Azmi told the media that the state decided to appeal against the order to ban battery-operated rickshaws in Dhaka city within three days.

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