Battery-run rickshaw drivers set fire to police box, vandalises vehicles in Mirpur
The drivers of battery-run three wheelers staged a demonstration blocking roads in Dhaka’s Mirpur, Pallabi and some other areas this morning
Battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked the Mirpur-10 intersection and set fire to a police box in the capital's Kalshi area today (19 May) protesting a ban on their vehicles on city roads, causing immense suffering for city dwellers.
During the daylong protest, they also vandalised at least four buses after a clash with the law enforcers who tried to disperse them.
Police and eyewitnesses said the auto-rickshaw drivers from Mirpur, Cantonment and Pallabi areas staged a blockade programme at the Mirpur-10 intersection from 10.15am to around 3pm, putting the traffic movement to a halt on both sides of the road.
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At one point, the protesters vandalised buses when police forcefully tried to allow traffic movement.
The agitation partially stopped around 2:45pm after the local Member of Parliament Elias Mollah promised to discuss the issue of allowing battery-run rickshaws with the government.
But a clash ensued between the protesters and police when a section of the drivers continued to block the road.
The agitators took positions in different lanes and threw brickbats at buses and police. Later, law enforcers brought the situation under control at 3:20pm at Mirpur-10.
Later, a group of protesters set fire to a police box at the Kalshi intersection. After the incident, police chased them, triggering a fresh clash around 5pm.
Masuk Mia, Mirpur additional deputy commissioner of police, said, "The agitators set fire to the police box. However, the fire service personnel extinguished the fire. We've already arrested some people."
Meanwhile, Lawmaker Elias Mollah told reporters, "There is no opportunity to go against the High Court's verdict. But we also have to consider the fact that auto drivers are not harmed. I will talk to the Prime Minister about this."
He also claimed that the auto-rickshaw drivers left the road after his assurance, but some "BNP-Jamaat and Shibir" men vandalised buses and pelted brickbats and stones at the police.
What protesters say
The protesters said that their families are dependent on the incomes from these battery-run rickshaws, adding that buying these vehicles also involves spending a lot of money.
They said if these vehicles are banned, they won't be able to run their families as they have no alternative work. So, they were forced to take to the streets to protect their livelihood.
Jamal Mia, a battery-run rickshaw driver who lives in Mirpur-11 with his two children and wife, had driven a foot-paddle rickshaw in Dhaka for more than a decade.
A few years ago, he was compelled to switch to driving an electric rickshaw after he developed some problems in his feet. He bought an electric rickshaw with a loan from the bank, but two days ago, police took away his rickshaw.
"I drive auto-rickshaws to support my family and pay weekly instalments. Besides, my two children are also studying. I could not sleep for the last two days. How will I manage my family? How will I pay the instalment?" said Jamal, who joined yesterday's protest.
"The government is oppressing the poor by stopping auto-rickshaws without providing alternative jobs," he added.
Another driver, Monika Hijra, who led the protest programme from the front, said "I don't collect money like other hijras (transgender). Drive auto rickshaws myself and rent them to others."
"If auto rickshaws were banned, why did they allow them to be imported? We don't accept this decision," she added.
Passengers' suffering
Kawsar Miah and two of his assistants were on their way to Mirpur DOHS from Kallyanpur to repair an air conditioner (AC), but experienced a road blockade at this intersection.
"I was supposed to be there by 11am, but could not get a transport due to the protest," he said.
Naima Rahman, with her four-year-old daughter, left her home in Khilkhet for Savar. But she was stuck in Mirpur due to the blockade.
Naima said, "I left home at 10am in the morning and was supposed to take my lunch at my father's house. It is now 12:30pm and I am still stuck in Mirpur."
What police saying
Jasim Uddin Molla, deputy police commissioner at Mirpur division, said, "The auto-rickshaw drivers blocked the road since morning. We've requested them several times. At one point, when the local parliamentarian spoke to them and asked them to leave the road, most of the protesters left."
However, some auto-rickshaw drivers vandalised some vehicles and threw brickbats at the policemen. Later, the policemen dispersed them from the road using force, he added.
