E-rickshaw rally rattles commuters

Commuters, students and parents faced severe difficulties on Monday as battery-run rickshaws virtually disappeared from several streets in the capital following a workers’ rally, coinciding with the reopening of educational institutions after a three-day holiday.

From Monday morning, a shortage of battery-run rickshaws or e-rickshaws was reported in Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Motijheel, Jurain, Paltan, Gulistan, Asad Gate, Farmgate, Banglabazar, Shyamoli and Mohammadpur, among other areas. There were allegations that drivers were forced to return their vehicles to garages and drop passengers to attend the rally.

The Rickshaw-Van-Easybike Workers’ Union had scheduled the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 10am, demanding the implementation of a 12-point charter. Leaflets were distributed at various rickshaw garages to encourage drivers to join the programme. One leaflet read: “Battery-run rickshaws will operate wherever there are roads.”

With schools and colleges reopening on the day, many students and their parents struggled to find transport. Some had to wait for long periods before arranging alternative vehicles.

Parvez Islam, a private-sector employee from Banshbari in Mohammadpur, said he waited on the road for a long time with his daughter but could not find a battery-run rickshaw. He eventually walked some distance and shared a pedal rickshaw with other passengers to take her to YWCA School on Asad Avenue.

Bank official Golam Sarwar, who usually travels from Bosila to Shyamoli or College Gate by battery-run rickshaw, said he had to book a motorcycle through a ride-sharing app after failing to find one. Even then, he waited at least 40 minutes to get a ride.

On Monday morning, a group of people was seen stopping battery-run rickshaws at Mohammadpur's Three-Way Intersection, asking drivers to drop passengers, turn around and return to their garages.

Ibrahim, a rickshaw driver from Bosila, said announcements about the rally had been made through loudspeakers for two days and leaflets had been distributed at garages.

Asad, a battery-run rickshaw driver near Bangabhaban in Motijheel, told The Daily Observer that the wires of his vehicle and those of around 500 other rickshaws had allegedly been cut. In some places, vehicle keys had also been taken away.

Liton, another driver, said the movement was continuing and would go on. He claimed that some drivers had continued operating their vehicles despite the protest, prompting others to remove wires and equipment from the rickshaws.

Ariful Islam Nadim, joint secretary of the union, said the rally was organised to press for 12 demands, including issuing licences to drivers through the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, providing route permits and ensuring that electricity meter connections were not disconnected. A memorandum would be submitted to the prime minister after the rally.

Asked whether the union had instructed anyone to stop rickshaws or force passengers to get off, Nadim denied issuing such directives, saying drivers had been invited to join the rally voluntarily.