Traffic in Dhaka's Agargaon area returned to normal on Monday afternoon after a four-hour blockade by battery-operated rickshaw drivers. The protest, which began around 10:30 am, caused severe traffic congestion as drivers blocked major roads, including the Agargaon intersection.
Witnesses said many protesters lay down in the street near the Agargaon Metro Rail station to draw attention to their demands. The drivers were protesting a recent High Court ruling that orders the suspension of battery-operated rickshaws in Dhaka.
The blockade continued until about 2:00 pm, when the drivers, after talks with local authorities, agreed to clear the roads. This allowed traffic to resume, ending the disruption.
Earlier protests had also taken place over the weekend. On Sunday, rickshaw drivers staged a sit-in at the National Press Club, demanding the continuation of battery-powered rickshaw services. They also blocked roads in the Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, and Jatrabari areas.
Similar protests occurred on Thursday, with rickshaw drivers blocking roads and railway tracks in various parts of the city, including Mirpur and Mohakhali.
The protests are a direct response to a November 19 High Court ruling that ordered the removal of battery-powered rickshaws from Dhaka’s streets within three days. The court’s decision followed a petition by Jahurul Islam Masum, president of the Greater Dhaka City Corporation Pedal Rickshaw Owners' Unity Group, and Mohammad Momin Ali, its secretary, who filed a writ petition and argued for the removal of battery-operated rickshaws. Since then, drivers have staged multiple protests across the capital.
