Battery-run rickshaw drivers on hunger strike in Barishal
Over a hundred battery-run rickshaw drivers went on hunger strike unto death yesterday in Barishal, protesting Barishal Metropolitan Police (BMP) and Barishal City Corporation’s (BCC) decision to ban the vehicles from five major roads of the city.
The auto-rickshaw drivers gathered in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city, under the banner of “Battery-run Rickshaw Sangram Committee”.
The drivers alleged that this ban will cause woes for around 3,000 families.
Dr Manisha Chakrabarty, adviser to the protesting committee, said, the BCC and BMP have already damaged 500 battery-run rickshaws and the families of the drivers are now suffering.
Dulal Mallik, one of the leaders of the committee said, “If needed, BCC can make new rules for the vehicles but it is inhumane to ban those altogether.”
Meanwhile, five roads of Barishal city were made off-limits to battery-run easy bikes and rickshaws from October 1 for safe road communication and to improve the traffic situation.
The roads are Zila school to Jailkhana mor, Kakoli mor to settlement mor, Girjamahalla road, Bhatarkhal to DC office crossing, and City Corporation to Chawker Pole crossing.
Khairul Alam, BMP’s deputy commissioner (traffic) said, these two types of vehicles were not under any specific authority, so it was difficult to regulate them.
Sources from BCC traffic department said, 2,610 battery-run easy bikes are plying Barishal streets since 2011 and over 3,000 battery-run rickshaws have been running illegally.
Israil Hossain, BCC chief executive officer, said High Court already banned these vehicles so BMP has taken a timely initiative.
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