Rickshaws back in city streets
The transport would continue creating traffic congestion in the long run, said commuters admitting the short-term benefits.
After a two-day protest against the ban on rickshaws on three major routes in the capital, rickshaw-pullers went back to their job on Wednesday.
They ended their demonstration in response to the prime minister’s directive to create separate lanes for rickshaw, one of the most-used forms of transportation for city residents. Passengers, however, reacted differently to the resumption of rickshaw.
They told the Business Standard the return of rickshaw to the streets would only yield short-term benefits, adding that the transport would continue creating traffic congestion in the long run.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam is holding a meeting with members of Rickshaw Pullers and Owners Association at his office on Wednesday. The mayor is presiding over the meeting, while, among others, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia and other stakeholders are present.
On Tuesday, rickshaw-pullers were assured by law enforcement officials that the ban on rickshaws would be lifted soon.
Hundreds of rickshaw-pullers took to the streets and staged sit-on protests at different points in the capital yesterday, disrupting traffic movement.
The ban on rickshaw came into effect on Sunday.
The three routes where the ban was imposed are Kuril-Sayedabad road via Rampura and Khilgaon, Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate, and Science Laboratory intersection to Shahbagh intersection.