Three-wheeler drivers take to the streets in Barishal

Drivers of battery-operated three-wheelers yesterday protested against the government's recent announcement of banning the vehicles.  

During the protest, Sadar Road in Barishal was blocked, stopping traffic for two hours from 11am. Workers and drivers from 30 wards of Barishal city occupied the road during a procession.

The protest rally was held in front of the city's Ashwini Kumar Hall and was organised by Battery Rickshaw, Easy-bike Driver Sangram Parishad, Barishal district unit.

At the time, speakers there said the battery-operated vehicles should be licensed by modernising the design and formulating policies. Speakers demanded immediate withdrawal of the home minister's announcement of banning battery-operated rickshaws, vans and easy-bikes.

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) member secretary Dr Manisha Chakraborty, BSD district convener Imran Habib Rumon, Rickshaw Sramik Federation's president Master Abul Hashem and other members including Dulal Mallick, Manik Mia, Mohsin Mir, Shahidul Islam and Zakir, addressed the protest.

Speaking as chief guest, Dr Manisha said, "The home minister had enacted a law to deprive five lakh people of their livelihood. But did he legislate to stop those people's hunger?"

She further said, "You can sit in the parliament for hours and speak on various unnecessary issues. But you can't design a rickshaw."

"How will you make the country digital by keeping the people hungry. Therefore, if the home minister does not withdraw his statement quickly, the drivers will wage a strong movement, including a strike in Barishal in the future," she added.

Speakers told the government that before stopping these vehicles, authorities should give stimulates packages of Tk 50,000 to driver and cover six months' expenditure.