Drivers of battery-powered rickshaws suspend protest, traffic resumes

The public sit-in organized by battery-powered rickshaw drivers in front of the National Press Club, demanding a 12-point charter including legalization of battery-powered rickshaws, has been suspended.

Traffic flow in the area has returned to normal.

The organizers announced that the Rickshaw-Van-Easybike Workers Union will meet with Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat ​​Ali of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at 11am on Monday to discuss their demands.

Earlier, hundreds of rickshaw drivers staged protests in multiple areas including Mohammadpur Beribandh Road, Three Roads Intersection, Jatrabari and Kamrangirchar, causing widespread traffic disruption. Commuters faced significant delays as traffic came to a standstill in these parts of the city.

The demonstrations stemmed from a recent Supreme Court order that banned battery-operated rickshaws across the country following a writ petition. Drivers have been opposing this decision for several days, blocking roads and railway lines in the capital as part of their protests.

Last Friday, a clash broke out between rickshaw drivers and law enforcement officers in Jurain, with police resorting to firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters had blocked the railway lines, halting train services via Padma Bridge for four hours.

With today’s sit-in suspended, stakeholders and authorities are hopeful that Monday’s discussions will lead to a resolution.