Dhaka auto rickshaw drivers have called a nationwide solidarity rally and procession on November 30 if the High Court order on battery rickshaw movement is not settled within the next seven days.
The Dhaka Metropolitan unit of the Rickshaw, Battery Rickshaw-Van and Easy Bike Sangram Parishad organized a rally and protest procession in front of the National Press Club at 10.30am on Saturday.
They demanded that the High Court withdraw its ban on battery rickshaws in Dhaka city, urging the implementation of the Supreme Court's order and a reconsideration of the ban.
They warned that if the High Court order on battery rickshaws is not resolved within seven days after the rally of the Sangram Parishad, they will organize a solidarity rally and procession on November 30 across the country in solidarity with the rickshaw drivers of Dhaka.
After the rally, a protest procession from the National Press Club via Topkhana Road ended at the office of the Central Management Council of the Sangram Parishad in Segunbagicha.
Speakers at the rally spoke on the High Court's ban on battery-powered rickshaws, urging people not to use the court order to undermine workers' livelihoods. They also called on people not to turn workers into adversaries by taking away their jobs if they cannot provide alternatives.
They said that since there is no public transport available everywhere in Dhaka city, rickshaws, battery rickshaws and easy bikes are the only means of transportation in areas outside the main roads. Battery-powered rickshaws and easy bikes are economical, comfortable, environmentally friendly and reduce the burden of pedaling for drivers, which has led to a significant increase in demand for this mode of transport.
They emphasized that it is impossible to ignore both the advancements in technology and the current reality.
The convener of the Sangram Parishad, Khalequzzaman Lipon, said that currently, around one million battery-powered rickshaws and easy bikes operate in Dhaka city. If this mode of transport is banned, approximately 1.5 million people will become unemployed overnight.
In a market marked by high commodity prices, the lives and livelihoods of drivers and the millions of people dependent on them will be at risk, he added.
He further mentioned that in the past, in response to two Supreme Court orders, the previous government announced a decision by the Council of Ministers allowing movement throughout Dhaka city, except on the main roads, and across 22 highways in the country.
He urged everyone, including legal experts, to assess whether the High Court's verdict holds validity in light of the Supreme Court's ruling.
If necessary, the leaders of the Sangram Parishad will launch a movement to challenge the verdict legally and finalize their policy.
He also called for an end to attacks, lawsuits and torture on rickshaw drivers and garages in different areas of Dhaka and to build resistance against attacks and torture.
At the same time, he mentioned the release of arrested rickshaw workers and the withdrawal of false cases.
The speakers at the event said that there is no alternative to electric or battery-powered vehicles to reduce carbon emissions to protect the environment.
They said the main reason for traffic congestion in Dhaka city is private cars that occupy 76% of the road; but carry only 6% of passengers. Similarly, although battery-powered vehicles are responsible for 5% of road accidents, battery rickshaws and easy bikes are being blamed.
Citing the reason for the highest number of road accidents, they said that motorcycles are the victims of the most accidents. So, should motorcycles be banned? Is this a solution?
The speakers at the rally called for protecting the livelihoods of 1.5 million drivers and the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on them. At the same time, the leaders of the Sangram Parishad felt that it was necessary to discuss and decide not to ply battery rickshaws on the main roads of the metropolis and to provide training on the rules of the road urgently.
The leaders also strongly called for restoring order on the roads by finalizing and modernizing the policies, registering battery-powered vehicles, issuing licenses and route permits to drivers, and constructing separate/service roads for easy bikes, rickshaws, and low-speed and local vehicles on every road and highway.
Under the chairmanship of Daud Ali Mamun, Joint General Secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Branch of Sangram Parishad and moderated by Finance Secretary Rokhsana Afroz Asa, the rally was addressed by Ahsan Habib Bulbul, one of the leaders of SCOPE, General Secretary of the Samajtantrik Sramik Front; Khalequzzaman Lipon, Convener of the Central Executive Council of Sangram Parishad; SM Kadir, Central Committee Member; Afzal Hossain, Dhaka Metropolitan Advisor; Sekandar Ali, Leader of the Dhaka Metropolitan Branch; Zakir Hossain, General Secretary of the Charan Cultural Center; and Mukta Baroi, President of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, all spoke in solidarity.