ছবি: Clash Between Police and Auto-Rickshaw Drivers in Dhaka Leaves 2 Officers Injured. Photo: Collected
A clash erupted between battery-powered rickshaw drivers and police in Dhaka today as drivers protested the ban on their vehicles, blocking roads and disrupting traffic. The incident, which took place at the Dayaganj intersection around midday, left two police officers injured.
According to Md. Faruk Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jatrabari Police Station, rickshaw drivers began blocking the road in protest of the recent ban on battery-powered rickshaws. As police urged the protesters to clear the road to ease severe traffic congestion, the drivers turned violent and attacked the officers, injuring two. The injured officers were taken to the hospital for treatment.
"The roadblock has now been cleared, and the situation is under control as of 1 PM," OC Faruk Ahmed confirmed. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain order.
This protest follows a High Court directive issued on Tuesday, ordering the cessation of battery-powered rickshaw operations within three days across Dhaka metropolitan areas. The order, issued by Justice Fatema Nazib and Justice Mahmudur Raji, instructed authorities to enforce the ban promptly.
Currently, Dhaka is home to approximately 1.3 million rickshaws, a significant portion of which are battery-powered. While most of these vehicles operate in the city's narrower lanes, many have been found using major roads, leading to traffic disruptions and frequent accidents.
Despite efforts by the two city corporations to curb the prevalence of illegal rickshaws through periodic drives, enforcement has proven challenging. Areas such as Khilgaon, Manda, Basabo, Jatrabari, Kadamtali, Demra, Mirpur, Uttara, and Sayedabad see a high concentration of these vehicles.
The continued operation of unauthorized rickshaws has resulted in frequent accidents and even fatalities, raising concerns among city authorities and residents.
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