Transport workers continued their demonstrations across the country for the fourth consecutive day yesterday, protesting a government ban on plying of three-wheelers on highways.
Transport workers staged demonstrations in different parts of the country, including Moulvibazar, Chittagong, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Comilla, Sylhet and Barisal.
Drivers of about 38,000 CNG-run three wheelers took to the streets since the morning. They held protest rallies and brought out processions. On three-wheelers ran in and around the town much to cause sufferings for commuters.
The protest rallies were held on Kulaura road, Kamalganj road, Sripur road in the district town.
Transport workers said if the government did not withdraw ban, they would go for tougher movement to achieve their demand.
Owners and drivers of the CNG run three wheelers have also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through deputy commissioner.
In Chapainwabganj, auto-rickshaw owners and drivers put up barricade on Dhaka-Chapainwabganj Highway for about four hours. They also gave two-day ultimatum to withdraw the ban.
During a sit-in in front of deputy commissioner’s office they raised question that if the government had imposed ban on three-wheeler why it imported such kinds of vehicles spending a huge amount of money.
Earlier on July 27, the government declared a ban on the movement of the light vehicles like three-wheelers and non-motorized vehicles on highways across the country with effect from August.
Following the ban, auto-rickshaw drivers and owners started their demonstrations in different parts of the country from August 1 protesting the ban.
The ban came in the wake of deaths of over 240 people in a series of road accidents before and after Eid-ul-Fitr across the country.
Meanwhile, green activists urged the government to undertake a coordinated initiative to bring about discipline on the country’s highways and ensure travellers’ saafety.
They came up with the demand at a press conference organised by Poribesh Bachao Andolon at its office in the capital.
Speaking at the press conference, Poba chairman Abu Naser Khan referred to the aftermath of the ban on three-wheeled auto-rickshaws and all non-mechanized vehicles from highways since August 1.
“Transport workers staged demonstrations in many districts of the country to condemn the government’s decision. So local people have fallen into untold misery in travelling and carrying goods for lack of transport,” he said.
Abu Naser Khan said as the decision to restrict auto-rickshaws on highways was taken without introducing any alternative mode of transportation, the problem was exacerbated across the country.
