Battery-run rickshaw drivers block roads, railway tracks at Mohakhali

Battery-operated rickshaw drivers have been staging demonstration by blocking roads and railway tracks in the capital’s Mohakhali rail gate area, halting rail connectivity between Dhaka and the rest of the country.

They started their demonstration by taking position on the rail lines around 11 AM on Thursday (November 21), protesting the High Court decision banning the vehicles from the Dhaka metropolitan area.

Additional number of law enforcers have been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control. However, protesters pelted brick chips at the law enforcers, leaving several injured.

Agitated rickshaw drivers throw brick chips at law enforcers

Khairul Kabir, divisional transport officer (Dhaka Division) of Bangladesh Railway, confirmed the suspension of train movement to the media.

It is also reported that battery-operated rickshaw drivers have blocked Mohakhali, Agargaon, Mohammadpur, Basila, Mirpur, Shewrapara, Gabtoli and Demra areas in the capital from 9 AM on Thursday (November 21), causing massive traffic congestion on these roads and significant inconvenience for commuters.

Earlier, the battery-operated rickshaw drivers also blocked different Dhaka roads on Wednesday protesting the High Court decision banning the vehicles from the Dhaka metropolitan area.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Mahmudur Rajib on Tuesday (November 19) directed the authority concerned to stop the operation of battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka city within the next three days.