Rickshaw pullers take to streets demanding ban on battery-run rickshaws

Hundreds of pedal rickshaw pullers have taken to the streets, calling for a ban on battery-operated rickshaws, which they describe as "discriminatory."

Pedal rickshaw pullers from various areas of Dhaka were seen heading to Shahbagh around 10 am this morning (26 August).

"We earn less than Tk200 a day. After paying the rickshaw fee and buying some rice, there’s barely enough left to feed our families," said a protesting rickshaw puller from Banglamotor, who was heading to Shahbagh with others.

On May 15 this year, the Advisory Council of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) decided to impose a ban on battery-operated rickshaws on the roads of Dhaka city.

On May 19, hundreds of battery-operated rickshaw pullers blocked the Mirpur-10 intersection in the capital to protest the police seizure of their vehicles. They vandalized buses and set fire to a police box at the Kalshi intersection in Mirpur.

On May 20, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina permitted battery-operated rickshaws to operate on the roads of Dhaka city.