Thousands of battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked roads and rail lines at different points in the capital city of Dhaka for several hours on Thursday causing immense sufferings to the commuters.
Besides, rail communications between Dhaka and other parts of the country remained suspended due to the blockades by the battery-run rickshaw drivers.
During the blockade programmes, they also clashed with the law and security forces and shop owners.
However, at one stage they fled away the road and suspending their protest till Saturday.
Witnesses said, 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.
UNB reports; The drivers of battery-powered rickshaws suspended their blockade for two days till Saturday to realise their demands.
Giving a two-day ultimatum, they threatened that they would go for tougher movement if their demands are not met within the timeframe.
Md Russell, officer-in-charge of Banani police station, said that the auto-rickshaw drivers left the city streets in Mohakhali area around 4pm allowing traffic to run several hours after clutches.
Jynul Abedin, officer-in-charge of Kamala Railway Police Station, said the train movement resumed with Dhaka and parts of the country around 4:10pm after the protesters removed the trail tracks in the Mohakhali area.
Earlier, on Thursday morning, the auto-rickshaw drivers blocked roads in different parts of the capital protesting a ban on their movement on city streets.
The roads include Mohakhali, Basila Dhaka Uddyan, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-12, Kazipara, Shewrapara and Mirpur Golchattar and Agargaon areas of the capital.
Commuters experienced gridlock in different parts of the capital following the blockade programme.
Besides, the train communication between Dhaka and other parts of the country got snapped as the protesting drivers blocked the rail tracks in Mohakhali area at the same time, causing immense sufferings to travellers.
Meanwhile, a huge crowd was seen on the metro rail as people gathered in metro rail stations to reach their respective destinations due to the sudden chaos on the streets of the capital.
