The Battery-Powered Rickshaw-Van and Easybike Sangram Parishad formed a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club on Saturday to press home their seven-point demands, including a review of the High Court's ban on battery-operated rickshaws within the city areas.
At the human chain, speakers called for finalising and updating a policy for battery-run rickshaws and easybikes, including registration, driving licences for drivers, route permits and ensuring proper training for drivers.
Convenor Khalequzzaman Lipon of the parishad, said, "Around 50 lakh people across the country are dependent on their earnings from battery-run vehicles, including easybikes and rickshaws. They have arranged for self-employment without any incentives or government assistance."
The speakers also alleged about attacks on them over the past three days. Many were injured in the attacks. They said that there were no transportation, except autorickshaw, during the July movement. At that time, autorickshaws were the only reliable mode of transport. They urged the authorities to review of the HC order. "A Supreme Court ruling barring battery-run autorickshaws from highways remains in effect," he said. "How, then, can the High Court issue a rule to ban battery-powered rickshaws? The Supreme Court's verdict already renders the High Court's ruling null and void."
In April 2022, the Appellate Division decided that battery-run three-wheelers could not ply on the highways. As a result, the vehicles were approved to run on all other roads.
But, on Tuesday, the High Court ordered the barring of the vehicles from the Dhaka metropolitan area within three days.
The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi made the decision based on a writ petition by the Pedal-run Rickshaw Association.
Lipon said the organisation has been protesting for 12 years demanding a policy on issuing licences, route permits and separate lanes for battery-powered rickshaws.
He said, "On July 6, we received a letter from BRTA informing us that our demand is being handled reasonably. On October 24, we were informed that the policy has been finalised." "Just as we grew hopeful, an organisation of pedal-powered rickshaw drivers filed a writ." No writ can be filed that deprives people of their livelihoods, he said.
Addressing the government, Lipon said, "You should make a policy, issue licences, register routes and distribute permits. When the issue of licences and route permits comes up, then the safety issue will also be raised. So finalise the policy within seven days without delay."
"We don't want to go on the highways. Provide by-lane service. We are protesting patiently, we haven't expanded it nationwide yet. The livelihoods of 30 million people depends on about 6 million battery-powered rickshaws across the country. So be careful. Immediately remove bureaucratic complications and arrange for licences to be issued in light of the Supreme Court's ruling."
