Hundreds of auto-rickshaw drivers staged a protest at the Dayaganj intersection in Dhaka on Wednesday, blocking traffic in response to a recent High Court ruling that ordered the suspension of battery-powered auto-rickshaws in the Dhaka metropolitan area. The protest began around 11:30 a.m. and continued until approximately 1:00 p.m., when drivers cleared the road, allowing traffic to resume.
The High Court issued the order on Tuesday, instructing that all battery-operated auto-rickshaws in the city be halted within three days. The ruling, passed by Justice Fatima Najeeb and Justice Mahmudur Razi, also directed several government bodies, including the Home Secretary, Local Government Secretary, IGP, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to enforce the order.
The petition for the ruling was filed by the president and general secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Rickshaw Owners Union, with Barristers HM Sanjid Siddique and Tahsina Tasnim Mridu representing them in court. The Greater Dhaka City Corporation Pedal Rickshaw Owners Association, led by President Jahurul Islam Masum and General Secretary Momin Ali, also filed a writ petition in the matter.
Battery-operated auto-rickshaws have become a significant part of Dhaka’s transport network, with several hundred thousand in operation. These vehicles, many of which have been converted from older pedal-powered rickshaws, are particularly prevalent in areas like Khilgaon, Manda, Basabo, Rampura, Badda, Jatrabari, Demra, Mohammadpur, and parts of Uttara, Mirpur, and Shyampur. While these rickshaws are more common in residential and local areas, they occasionally enter main roads when possible.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
