Thousands of battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked roads and rail lines at different points in the capital city of Dhaka causing immense sufferings to the commuters. Besides, rail communications between Dhaka and other parts of the country remain suspended.
They blocked the roads at Mohakhali, Mirpur, Agargaon, Khilgaon, Demra and several other places since Thursday morning,
Khairul Kabir, divisional transport officer (Dhaka Division) of Bangladesh Railway, said rail communication with the most part of the country remains suspended from 9:45am after a group of battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked Mohakhali rail crossing.
The drivers started their protests since Wednesday after the High Court, on Tuesday, directed government authorities to take necessary measures to stop the plying of battery-run rickshaws and auto-rickshaws in Dhaka within three days.
To protest the decision, hundreds of battery-run rickshaw drivers took to Mohakhali road around 9:30am. The demonstration caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the road, said Rasel Sarwar, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station.
Simultaneously, other group of drivers blocked Agargaon and Mirpur-10 roads over the same demands.
People were seen urging others to avoid these two routes, posting photos and warnings on social media, especially Facebook.
Traffic disruptions are expected to persist unless the protests are resolved, according to traffic police.
On Wednesday, the rickshaws drivers blocked roads in the Agargaon and Jatrabari areas for hours yesterday, demanding government intervention in rehabilitating them before banning their vehicles in the capital.
The HC order, issued on Tuesday cited safety concerns and unregulated modifications as reasons for the ban.
While authorities had begun implementing the directive, the sudden removal of thousands of rickshaws has sparked unrest among drivers.
Approximately 12 lakh rickshaws currently operate across the capital, with a significant portion of them being battery-powered. Additionally, many old pedal-rickshaws are being converted into motorised three-wheelers by installing batteries.
