Several hundred battery-run rickshaw drivers staged demonstrations across the capital on Sunday, demanding withdrawal of the ban on movement of three-wheelers.
During the demonstrations, they clashed with police and set fire to a police box. A passer-by also sustained bullet injury to his throat as police opened fire on the demonstrators to disperse them, witnesses said.
Locals said that the drivers of battery-run rickshaws blocked roads at Mirpur, Pallabi, Demra and other areas to press home their demand.
Vehicular movement remained suspended for several hours at Mirpur-10, Mirpur 11, Mirpur 2, Mirpur 13, Mirpur, Pallabi, Agargaon, Taltola, Kalshi and Shewrapara, causing immense suffering for commuters and creating panic among passers-by and passengers of various modes of transport.
During the clash at Mirpur in the afternoon, a passer-by identified as Mohammad Sagar (23) sustained injury after being hit by a bullet. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital about 5:00pm for treatment.
Sagar, who hails from Faridpur, works at a tailor shop located at Baunia in Mirpur. Coworker Rakibul Mia said that they were returning home from Uttara. As they reached Mirpur, the clash was on. All of a sudden, several rounds of bullet hit Sagar in his throat.
Acknowledging the matter, DMC police camp in-charge Bachchu Mia told reporters that they already informed the police station concerned in this regard.
The protesters also set a police box on fire in Kalshi area about 4:15pm following the clash with law enforcers in Mirpur-10 area.
Such a chaotic situation was created after Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to take measures to stop plying of battery-run three-wheelers in the city.
“No battery-run three-wheelers will be allowed on city roads. Apart from this, the movement of three-wheelers has already been banned on 22 highways,” he said while speaking at the advisory council meeting at the BRTA headquarters.
Following the directive of the minister, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority on Saturday issued a notice, banning plying of battery-run rickshaws and rundown buses.
As per the Road Transport Act, 2018, plying of battery-run rickshaws or vans or such type of three-wheelers and unfit and rundown vehicles is a punishable offence.
Under the circumstances, it has been requested not to ply battery-run three-wheelers and unfit vehicles in Dhaka city. “Legal action will be taken against those who will violate the law,” the notice reads.
Witnesses said that chase and counter-chase took place between the drivers and police at Mirpur Benarashi Palli at 3:00pm. During the demonstrations, the agitators vandalised 8-10 buses.
It was learnt when the police tried to disperse the demonstrators to free the roads, the drivers pelted police
with brickbats. In response, the police chased them and brought the situation under control.
During the demonstrations, witnesses said, Dhaka-16 constituency lawmaker Elias Uddin Molla came to Mirpur-10 and requested the agitators to withdraw the movement. He also assured them of looking into the matter.
After getting assurance, a section of the drivers agreed to go back. But another section from Shewrapara area continued staging demonstrations. When the police asked them to leave the roads, the agitators pelted them with brickbats while another group with sticks chased the police.
At one stage, police also went for counter-chase to disperse the demonstrators and brought the situation under control.
Mipur Division Deputy Commissioner Jashim Uddin Molla told reporters that the protestors were dispersed around 3:15 pm and traffic in the area resumed about five hours after the blockade.
“They blocked the road since morning. We requested them several times. At one point, when a member of parliament spoke to them and asked them to leave, most of them started leaving. Some rickshaw-pullers, however, vandalised some vehicles and threw stones at the policemen. Later, the police removed them from the road using force,” he said.
Elias Mollah, MP said, “There is no scope to go against the High Court verdict. But we also have to consider the fact that rickshaw-pullers are not harmed. I will talk to the Prime Minister about this.”
Leaders of the battery-run Rickshaw-Van-Easy Bike Sangram Parishad have been urging the government to issue licences against their vehicles.
They claim that though the government has prepared a draft, it is dragging its feet over finalising the draft.
They say that nearly 50 lakh people are driving easy-bikes and battery-run three-wheelers and many of them have bought such vehicles by leasing their land or taking loans.
