Battery rickshaw drivers call off protest, traffic resumes

The public sit-in by battery rickshaw drivers outside the National Press Club demanding a 12-point charter, including the legalization of battery rickshaws, has been suspended.

Traffic flow in the area has returned to normal.

Organizers announced that the Rickshaw-Van-Easybike Workers Union is scheduled to meet Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat ​​Ali on Monday at 11:00 am to discuss their demands.

Earlier, hundreds of auto-rickshaw drivers staged protests in several areas including Mohammadpur Beribandh Road, Three Roads Intersection, Jatrabari and Kamrangirchar, causing widespread traffic disruption. Commuters faced significant delays as traffic came to a standstill in these parts of the city.

The demonstrations stemmed from a recent High Court order banning battery-powered rickshaws nationwide, following a writ petition. Drivers have rallied against the decision for several days, blocking roads and railway tracks in the capital as part of their protests.

Last Friday, a clash broke out between rickshaw pullers and lawmen in Jurain, where police resorted to firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. Protesters blocked the railway tracks, halting train services through the Padma Bridge for four hours.

With today’s sit-in suspended, stakeholders and authorities hope Monday’s talks will lead to a resolution.