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Battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked a road in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka for about an hour on Monday, demanding an end to alleged police harassment and vehicle dumping and permission to operate freely on all roads in the capital.
The drivers began gathering in front of the Press Club after 10:30am, arriving in small processions from different parts of Dhaka.
Around 11:30am, several thousand drivers occupied both sides of the road, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
During the protest, the drivers alleged that their autorickshaws were being stopped on the roads and sent to dumping yards, while they were being fined Tk2,000–3,000. They said it was difficult for low-income drivers to pay such fines and secure the release of their vehicles.
They also alleged that electricity connections to charging points for battery-run rickshaws were being disconnected.
The protesters warned that they would announce tougher programmes if what they described as harassment and dumping continued.
Police said the drivers left the road around 12:30pm and headed towards Paltan in a procession.
Mohammad Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, told bdnews24.com that several thousand autorickshaw drivers had blocked the road in front of the Press Club with various demands, disrupting traffic.
“They left in a procession around 12:30pm, after bringing traffic to a halt,” he said.