Battery-run rickshaw drivers clash with police in Ctg, 10 injured

At least 10 people, including police personnel, were injured during a clash between battery-powered rickshaw drivers and police in Chattogram on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident took place around 12:00 PM in the Bahir Signal area under Chandgaon Police Station. Police said they could not immediately confirm the identities of the injured.

The clash followed an ongoing crackdown by police against battery-powered rickshaws in the city. Over the past few weeks, nearly 3,000 such vehicles have been confiscated, prompting growing frustration among drivers.

On Wednesday, agitated drivers blocked the road in protest. The situation escalated after an argument with police, turning into a violent confrontation. Protesters and law enforcement personnel threw bricks at each other, and police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Drivers retreated into nearby alleyways, from where they continued throwing stones at police. As the chase continued, the busy Arakan Road became blocked, leading to severe traffic congestion.

Both police and army personnel were deployed at the scene to restore order.

Al Kaderi Joy, convener of the Rickshaw, Battery Rickshaw-Van and Easy Bike Sangram Parishad (Chattogram Chapter), informed that, “We had no planned protest today. But after thousands of battery rickshaws and easy bikes were seized in recent days, workers whose livelihoods depend on these were pushed to the streets in desperation.”

He added that the city has over 150,000 battery-powered vehicles, but there is no official policy on where or how they are allowed to operate. “Police are seizing vehicles arbitrarily and harassing drivers. This cannot continue,” he said.

When contacted, Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aftab Uddin said, “We are currently trying to bring the situation under control and cannot comment further at this time.”