The sudden shortage of rickshaws left commuters struggling to find transport during the morning rush.
Dhaka streets look unusually quiet as battery-run rickshaws disappear ahead of workers’ rally. Photo: TBS
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Dhaka streets look unusually quiet as battery-run rickshaws disappear ahead of workers’ rally. Photo: TBS
Battery-run rickshaws were largely absent from many Dhaka streets today (9 November), as drivers were urged to join a rally in front of the National Press Club, according to media reports.
In several areas, including Mohammadpur, people were seen stopping moving rickshaws and asking drivers to take their vehicles back to garages and attend the rally.
On the Mohammadpur Beribadh road, drivers were also preventing other vehicles from operating. Drivers carrying passengers were being forced to drop them off, while the electrical wires of some auto-rickshaws were reportedly being torn out.
The sudden shortage of rickshaws left commuters struggling to find transport during the morning rush.
The rally has been organised by the Rickshaw-Van-Easybike Workers’ Union, an affiliate of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB). The organisation has also planned to submit a memorandum to the prime minister.
Speaking to bdnews24, autorickshaw driver Ibrahim, from the Basila area, said announcements had been made through loudspeakers for the past two days to mobilise drivers for today’s rally. Leaflets had also been distributed at garages, he added.
The leaflet carried the slogan, “Where there are roads, autorickshaws will run.”
Ariful Islam Nadim, joint secretary of the Rickshaw-Van-Easybike Workers’ Union, said the rally and procession would begin at 10am in front of the National Press Club.
The union has 12 demands, including issuing licences through the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), providing route permits and ensuring that electricity meter connections are not disconnected.
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