Drivers block road in city protesting ban on battery-run rickshaw

Battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked the road and demonstrated in the capital's Dayaganj area on Wednesday, protesting the decision to ban the three-wheelers from the Dhaka Metropolitan area. — FE Photo by Shafiqul Alam

Over 100 battery-run rickshaw drivers have taken to the streets in the capital's Dayaganj, protesting the High Court (HC) decision banning the three-wheelers from the Dhaka Metropolitan area, reports bdnews24.com.
The drivers had gathered for nearly three hours on Wednesday before they attempted to block the road. Police then obstructed them.
Around 12:30pm, the drivers left the road and the traffic in the area has since returned to normal according to Kapil Dev Gyne, assistant commissioner of Traffic Wari Zone of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
"The rickshaw drivers began gathering in the Dayaganj area around 9:00 am," he said. "Around 11:30am, they blocked the road, causing heavy traffic congestion," he said.
"When they were instructed to clear the road, they attacked the police. Several people, including a traffic police sergeant, were injured. The injured sergeant is currently receiving treatment at the Rajarbag Central Hospital," he added.
On Tuesday, the HC ordered a ban on battery-run rickshaws in the Dhaka Metropolitan area within three days.
The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi gave the order based on a writ petition by the Pedal-run Rickshaw Association.
The home secretary, local government secretary, police chief, DMP commissioner, and the authorities of the two Dhaka city corporations were instructed to implement the decision.
The rickshaw drivers took to the streets in Dayaganj the following day to demand the ban be withdrawn.
Khalekuzzaman Lipon, convener for the Rickshaw, Battery Rickshaw-Van, and Easybike Sangram Parishad, also issued a statement calling for the decision to be withdrawn.
He also urged the court not to destroy the livelihoods of workers and not to make an enemy of them.