Drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws yesterday threatened agitation from tomorrow unless the government keeps mass transports like the auto-rickshaws out of gas rationing system and provides them with daylong gas refill facility.
The transport workers said six-hour postponement of CNG services everyday takes away priceless hours and leaves fewer time for them to earn bread.
A transport workers leader, Md Golam Faruk, said they will stage protest rallies at different auto-rickshaw stands in the city from October 13 to 23, if the demands are not met. Further programmes will be announced on October 25.
Faruk, general secretary of Dhaka District Auto rickshaw-Auto Tampu-Mishuk Transport Workers Union, cited the programmes in a written speech at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the city.
He said the government decided to keep CNG stations shut from 3:00pm to 9:00pm everyday to save CNG and reduce power outage, but it doesn't work.
''Six-hour postponement of services at CNG stations with a three-hour load shedding and severe traffic jam adds more miseries to our life. Now it has become very hard for us to maintain our families after paying the deposit to the auto-rickshaw owners,'' he said.
Majibur Rahman, president of the union; Mainul Islam Moktar, its joint secretary; Rafiqul Islam, organising secretary; and Kazi Mozammel Haque, assistant secretary; were present at the press conference among others.