What is democracy?

We, in Bangladesh, profess to be a democratic and civilized society. But what is democracy? Besides meaning 'rule by the majority', does it not guarantee the State bestowing on ALL its citizens, all the rights as enshrined in our sacred constitution. These rights include the right to travel on all public roads freely, it includes the right to earn one's livelihood by all legal means and it includes the right to mobility and access to any part of Bangladesh.
By banning rickshaws (when there is no viable alternative) from most main and trunk roads, the traffic department has infringed on these basic precepts of our constitution by:
1. Putting at risk the livelihood of about 6 lakh rickshaw-pullers, their 20-25 lakh family members and another 1 lakh rickshaw-related people (approx 30 lakh) who earn an estimated Tk 10-12 crores every day (add to GDP).
2. Infringing on the rights of about 30-40 lakh Dhakabashis (the old, women, children, disabled, infirm, ill and those carrying small loads) who can afford to use rickshaws only.
3. Encouraging miscreants to create law and order problems by diverting many members of an under-manned police force to such anti-people, non-productive and wasteful activities.
4. Unlawfully hindering the movement of rickshaw users forced to become pedestrians (about 40-50 lakh) by allowing the few battered footpaths of Dhaka to be occupied by building materials, hawkers, shops and parked cars.
5. Forcing the saner elements amongst the car owners to bring out their cars again for short distance travels that previously they had avoided by using rickshaws. All totalling over 95% of Dhaka's population.
So, as they trudge wearily on the pot-holed roads amidst speeding cars in sun and rain, the vast majority of people might just ask who benefits from this unjust order of banning rickshaws on Dhaka's roads? Simple, it is the 1-2% of the privileged class and the Fat Cats and their SUVs and stretched out Gas Guzzling Monstrosities speeding empty/half empty on the public roads with glaring lights and blaring horns! Many untaxed, unfit, unregistered, unaccountable and shameless. Polluting the environment and society itself. Parking here, there and everywhere even in defiance of the prime minister herself.
I therefore, wonder where our numerous Human Rights, Legal Aid organisations and Rickshaw Samities/ Associations are and what they intend to do about the flagrant rights violations taking place in the thousands all around us? Are these not fit for hundreds of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) cases?