Locals beat up protesting battery-run rickshaw drivers who blocked Gulshan roads
The ban came following complaints of traffic rules violations and growing accidents centring such rickshaws
Locals today (19 April) beat up protesting battery-run rickshaw drivers who were demonstrating in the capital's Gulshan-2 protesting a ban on such vehicles in the area.
A number of battery-run rickshaw drivers took to the streets of Gulshan, even barricading certain points of the area, leading to congestion.
Videos on social media also showed a number of battery-run rickshaws driving through the roads with some drivers chanting slogans against the ban.
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Afterwards, locals also gathered on the roads and attacked the protesters, forcing them to disperse.
Videos showed men, some with sticks, forcing the rickshaw drivers to leave the area, breaking up the protests.
The locals slapped some of the protesters.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Officer-in-Charge of Gulshan thana Mahmudur Rahman said, "The Dhaka North City Corporation has instituted a ban on rickshaws in the Gulshan area. That is what prompted the protest."
No comments were provided on the attack by locals as of filing this report.
Earlier, a video also showed some battery-run rickshaw drivers vandalising a traditional pedal-run rickshaw. But this incident could not be confirmed by TBS.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Dhaka North City Corporation Zonal Executive Officer (Zone-3) Nahid Ul Mostaque clarified that both motorised and pedal rickshaws are prohibited on the main roads of Dhaka North.
"The system in which rickshaws were allowed to ply on the streets with identity cards issued by Gulshan and Banani Societies is now obsolete. We are working on issuing rickshaw licences. The matter is under consideration by the ministry. We have been conducting a drive against illegal rickshaws and rickshaws that operate illegally for a few days now."
Earlier, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz stated that in addition to setting up effective trappers, drives will be conducted to remove battery-powered auto-rickshaws from the main roads.
The Chamber Court of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division had issued a status quo on a High Court order banning battery-run rickshaws from operating on Dhaka roads in November.
The ban came following complaints of traffic rules violations and growing accidents centring such rickshaws.
Drivers and vehicle owners protested the ban, before the SC reversal.
Approximately 12 lakh rickshaws currently operate in Dhaka, with a significant portion being battery-powered now as many old pedal-rickshaws are being converted to motorised three-wheelers through different unregulated modifications to the vehicle.
The vehicles are still spotted in various infractions of rules and accidents.
Earlier yesterday, a six-month-old baby died after a battery-run rickshaw carrying the child and her mother lost control due to its speed and fell into a canal in Chattogram.
