Even though public transports of all modes have been on a halt due to the strict lockdown to prevent Coronavirus transmission, CNG auto-rickshaws and rickshaws are plying the road in special needs. However, rickshaw pullers have been spending their days in immense woes and sufferings due to police’s seizure, fines, fear of dumping and less number of passengers.
They deplore that low-income employees among those, whose offices are open amid lockdown, do not ride on their vehicles to save cost. The workers and employees walk to work and return home on foot. On the other hand, middle and highly paid employees have their own private transports like cars and motorbikes.
Police have been seizing numerous battery-powered and paddled rickshaws on the road since the 'Harsher Lockdown' and sent those for dumping. They puncture wheels and fine the pullers as well.
Yesterday, some rickshaw pullers and passengers in Mirpur and Farmgate areas of the capital said defiantly that although the fare of public transports is low, those are now on halt. Rickshaws or CNG-run auto-rickshaws are the last choice. But it is impossible on the part of the low-paid employees to continue riding these vehicles to their respective workplaces paying so much.
Md Matin, a rickshaw puller lives with his mother, wife and two children in Hazaribagh area. He has to buy medicines regularly for his sick mother and little girl. But if he doesn't drive rickshaw for a day, he has to starve along with his full family.
Matin told Bangladesh Post over mobile phone, "Most of the time I pull my rickshaw in Farmgate, Gulistan and Chawkbazar areas. But yesterday the police stopped me with a passenger on board on the way to Palashi. They detained me there for two hours after puncturing the wheels. If it continues like this, there is no way but to get away from this city or beg."
Belayet Hossain, a rickshawpuller from Mirpur area, has three children and a wife. Although his daily expenses are over Tk 500, the income now a days is less.
He told Bangladesh Post, "Many people think we are earning much in the lockdown. But, what's true to see is, most of the offices are closed and there are police patrols in the streets. Some people get out in the locality, a few take rickshaws. Most of the commuters who used to get on the bus now walk."
Some offices, factories and emergency services are kept open amid lockdown. Although rickshaws are short-distance vehicles, a few people cannot but take rickshaw to work to travel long distance.
Mostain Billah Nazi, who works for a private medicine company, told Bangladesh Post, "I had to change three rickshaws to reach Uttara from Mirpur. Sometimes I had to pay a fare of Tk 50 instead of Tk 20 and Tk 100 instead of Tk 50."
Members of the law enforcement forces staying on the road said that all the rickshaws being used for emergency purposes, such as taking someone to the hospital or carrying any emergency supplies, were not stopped. But those who are moving on the road unnecessarily are stopped and rickshaws are being detained for transporting them. Passengers are being released if they have a movement pass.
Mashiur Rahman, Sub-Inspector (SI) in charge of Kafrul Police Station said yesterday, "We are trying our best to enforce the lockdown. We are not allowing anyone to travel without proper reason. We have sent about 30 to 40 rickshaws for dumping since the morning."
