CNG autorickshaw drivers lift blockades as BRTA withdraws decision to reenforce meter usage
BRTA last week decided to reenforce meter usage and fines or jail terms for autorickshaw drivers who charge more than the fare shown on the meter
Highlights:
- BRTA cancels 10 Feb order on reenforcing fine, cases against CNG autorickshaw drivers
- Punishments, including jail term, were meant for drivers who charge more than meter fare
- Autorickshaw drivers end demonstrations, lift blockades after BRTA withdraws order
- Drivers protested the BRTA decision by blocking roads in Dhaka city in past few days
- Passengers faced hardship due to the drivers' road blockades
- Drivers claim overcharging persists due to high daily deposits to owners
The drivers of CNG-run autorickshaws have suspended their demonstrations and lifted the blockades on Dhaka streets after the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) withdrew its decision to reenforce meter usage and fines or jail terms for autorickshaw drivers who charge more than the fare shown on the meter.
Aminul Islam, joint member secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan Autorickshaw Drivers' Unity Council, told The Business Standard today (16 February), "Since the authority has cancelled the order, our protests on the roads have been suspended.
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"However, we will continue to discuss our demands, including fare hike, with the government."
Earlier this morning, BRTA cancelled its 10 February order that asked police to file cases and sought to reenforce Tk50,000 in fines or up to six months' jail terms against autorickshaw drivers who charge more than the fare shown on the meter.
The cancellation order came via a letter signed by BRTA Director (Engineering) Shitangshu Shekhor Biswas, sent to the authorities concerned including Bangladesh Police.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in a press release, signed by DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Muhammad Talebur Rahman, this morning also acknowledged receiving the cancellation order.
It said the recent BRTA directive issued for four-stroke three-wheeler vehicles has been cancelled and all concerned have been informed about this.
DMP also requested the drivers to lift the blockade and clear the roads to allow vehicular movement.
Autorickshaw drivers blocked several roads around Dhaka city this morning, demanding the withdrawal of the BRTA decision and increasing the base fare on the meter.
The drivers were seen using their vehicles to block both sides of the road in Agargaon's Taltola area, causing traffic jams.
The drivers were seen sitting and lying down on the streets beside their vehicles, chanting slogans.
Similar blockades were seen on roads in different parts of the city, including Hatirjheel, Rampura, Badda, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur, and Gabtoli.
Those protesting on the streets were seen stopping autorickshaws that were not participating in the demonstrations and forcing the drivers to join the blockade.
Commuters suffering due to the blockades and a lack of autorickshaws were seen resorting to travelling on rickshaws or walking to their destinations from those areas.
Currently, the government-set minimum fare for autorickshaws is Tk40 for the first two kilometres, and after that, the fare is Tk12 per km. Also, the waiting charge is set at Tk2 per minute.
Passengers have complained that in Dhaka's autorickshaws, it is impossible to travel a short distance for less than Tk150.
CNG autorickshaw owners also collect additional deposits daily. As per government policy, the daily deposit for owners is currently set at Tk900.
However, drivers claim that owners collect deposits from them twice a day, in the morning and evening, often collecting between Tk1,200 to Tk2,000 in some cases. This forces the drivers to charge passengers more, they claimed, to come up with the money for daily deposits.
A BRTA official, on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard that BRTA had decided to reenforce the punishments, provisions for which already exist in the current law, as they received many complaints of overcharging in recent times.
Autorickshaw drivers have been blocking the roads throughout the last few days since 11 February after BRTA issued the directive, which said the drivers would be fined a maximum Tk50,000 or face imprisonment for up to six months for the offence.
The 10 February letter, signed by BRTA Director Shitangshu and sent to the police and other authorities concerned, had directed the police to file cases against drivers who charge passengers more than the meter fare.
