Following recent protests by Ansar members, pedal rickshaw drivers have now blockaded Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, demanding the cessation of battery-operated autorickshaws on main roads among other requests.
The blockade began around 11 AM on Monday when several hundred drivers gathered with their pedal rickshaws, effectively halting traffic through Shahbagh. The movement resumed only after the protesters dispersed later in the day.
The demands articulated by the rickshaw drivers include the issuance of new licenses and the renewal of existing ones by Dhaka North City Corporation similar to Dhaka South City Corporation’s policies, provision of trade licenses for business operations, free medical treatment for ill drivers on Fridays, and the issuing of driving licenses to protect the livelihoods of legitimate rickshaw operators.
During the protest, drivers expressed their frustrations over the lower fares charged by autorickshaw drivers, which they claim undercuts their ability to earn a fair wage and reduces their customer base. They also pointed out the traffic congestion and increased accidents caused by autorickshaws moving from alleys to main roads.
The rickshaw drivers emphasized the need to ban battery-operated autorickshaws from primary streets to ensure safer and more regulated traffic, advocating for their own economic security and the general safety of daily commuters in Dhaka.