Battery-run rickshaw drivers vandalise vehicles, besiege DC office in Sylhet

Battery-run rickshaw drivers staged a protest in Sylhet city on Thursday, demonstrating against police drives targeting illegal vehicles. The protest escalated into vandalism and road blockades before the group laid siege to the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC).

The demonstration was organized under the banner of Sylhet Battery-Run Rickshaw Owners-Workers Unity Council. Witnesses said hundreds of rickshaw drivers gathered at the Chouhatta Alia Madrasa field in the morning and marched towards Chouhatta Point around noon. Protesters attempted to block the road with bamboo poles, though a strong police presence prevented major disruption.

Chanting slogans, the drivers later moved to the DC’s office, where they surrounded the premises and submitted a memorandum of demands.

During the march, a section of protesters reportedly vandalized several CNG-run autorickshaws and damaged the gate of Sylhet City Corporation.

Additional police were deployed across the area to maintain order.

Mohammad Saiful Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said law enforcers had remained alert during the protest. “No operations were carried out today. The drivers’ demands are under review, but the crackdown on illegal vehicles has not been suspended,” he said.

In the last three days, police have seized more than 100 vehicles during drives across the city. On Wednesday alone, 69 vehicles were impounded, including 44 battery-run rickshaws. A total of 31 cases were filed against vehicles without valid documents. Among the seized were autorickshaws, motorcycles, pickups, trucks, and private cars.