Dhaka, July 9 (UNB) – Rickshaw-pullers blocked roads in different areas of the city on Tuesday morning protesting the decision banning the plying of rickshaws on three major thoroughfares of the capital, including the Kuril-Sayedabad one.
Abdul Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station, said several hundred rickshaw-pullers took to the street and put barricades on both carriageways in front of Better Life Hospital at Rampura around 8:30am.
They also blocked the important thoroughfare in Uttar Badda and beneath the Badda U-loop.
The protesting rickshaw-pullers were seen chanting slogans in favour of their demand to lift the ban on rickshaw plying.
Following the road blockade, the vehicular movement came to a standstill, inflicting sufferings on commuters.
Office-goers and students of different schools and colleges were the worst sufferers as they got stuck in gridlock.
Many were seen walking to reach their destinations.
The Rampura OC told UNB at 11:50pm that they along with the local ward councillor were trying to pacify the rickshaw-pullers.
Meanwhile, the Mugda Police Station OC said rickshaw-pullers formed a human chain in front of Kamalapur Stadium around 10am to press for their demand.
Tanzina Islam, a private service holder, said she went to her office at New Circular Road from Uttar Badda walking on foot for lack of transport. “It took me one and half an hours to reach my office on foot,” she said.
She said the demonstrators were allowing no mode of transport except ambulance to ply the road.
On July 3, a special committee, formed with Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon as its head, decided that three major streets would be made off-limits to rickshaws, in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the capital.
At a meeting on July 3, a special committee, formed with Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon as its head, to stop the plying of illegal vehicles as well as stop grabbing of footpaths and illegal parking in the capital decided to ban the plying of rickshaws on three major thoroughfares from July 7 in an effort to ease the growing traffic congestion.
The three roads are Kuril-Sayedabad road by Rampura and Khilgaon, Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate and Science Laboratory intersection to Shahbagh intersection.
