We hail the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her time-befitting decision regarding the plying of battery-run rickshaws, rickshaw vans and other three-wheelers on the city streets. Considering the sufferings of the low-income people and impact of price hike of essentials and fuel due to global crises, she (Sheikh Hasina) has allowed the battery-run rickshaws on the city streets for now.
The abrupt decision to ban battery-run autos and rickshaws on Dhaka city roads left thousands of three-wheeler drivers in despair. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority had banned battery-run rickshaws, rickshaw vans, and other three-wheelers from the streets of Dhaka.
When both poor and middle income groups are bearing the brunt of price hike, the latest move to stop plying of battery-run three wheelers on the city roads, threw the drivers into deep uncertainty.
The ban, imposed as part of efforts to reduce accidents, caused frustration among drivers in the city and it is likely to give rise to widespread unemployment. But, now the drivers are happy to hear the news of lifting.
As soon as the news of prime minister’s directive spread a festive mood was seen prevailing among the drivers. They were seen exchanging greetings and hugging each other to express their joy.
Many people are engaged in running battery-run autorickshaws. In the last two days they passed through a very difficult time losing their ways of earnings.
As the news of prime
minister’s directive spread
a festive mood was seen
prevailing among the drivers
Many battery-run rickshaw owners pay their loan instalments from their everyday earning. As it was very tough to get new jobs right now, it would have been difficult for them to get job soon if the ban was not withdrawn.
We believe working people will not remain out of paid work during the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government. If the ban continues, there would be sharp decline in their savings while incidents of criminal activities will rise drastically. On the other hand, drivers of battery-run rickshaws and easy bikes continued staging demonstration on different city streets for the second consecutive day, protesting crackdown on their vehicles.
The drivers of battery-run three wheelers staged demonstration blocking roads in the city’s Mirpur, Pallabi, Staff Quarters, Demra, Rampura, Mohammadpur Beribadh, Khilgaon, Agargaon and Taltola areas and some other areas obstructing traffic movement in the area. Traffic came to a halt on different streets across the city.
On Sunday drivers of battery-run three wheelers set a police box on fire at Kalshi intersection in the city’s Mirpur area during demonstration against banning the vehicle on Dhaka streets. The protesters also vandalised some buses passing in the Mirpur area. A series of chase and counter-chase between police and protesters also took place.
Traffic movement in those areas remained halted for hours following the demonstration, causing immense sufferings to the commuters. Earlier on Wednesday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader instructed the authorities concerned to take steps to stop the movement of battery-run three wheelers on the roads in Dhaka city.
We think Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always keeps a sharp eye on every situation and she takes immediate measures whatever necessary to face any situation. Sheikh Hasina has successfully combated all past crisis or any unwanted situation with her dynamic and farsighted leadership. Her (Sheikh Hasina) latest decision proved again that she always stand by the people.
