The 72-hour CNG-run Auto-rickshaw strike called by Dhaka Metropolitan CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Malik Samity Oikya Parishad is underway in the capital.
CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Malik Samity is enforcing the shutdown demanding implementation of the recommendation for extending economic lifespan of the vehicle by four more years from the existing lifetime of 11 years.
The Oikya Parishad leader, Nazmul Hasan, told the BSS: "The CNG-run auto-rickshaw strike has begun in the capital from Tuesday morning and it would continue till 6am on Friday as non-implementation of the recommendation would incur a huge financial loss for the CNG auto-rickshaw owners."
He said the Mechanical Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET) recommended for extension of the economic lifespan of three-wheelers plying in the city to 15 years after testing the vehicles six months ago.
Even a nine-member body formed by the Communication Minister also agreed with the recommendation made by BUET, added Hasan.
Despite the recommendations by BUET, Ministerial committee and the draft proposal and notification by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) - no decision is yet to be taken in this regard due to opposition from a section of ministry officials, he alleged.
He, however, warned to continue the strike from the next week if their demands would not be met by that time.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Roads and Highway Division under the Ministry of Communication MA M Siddique was not available to make any comments on this matter while he was repeatedly contacted over the mobile phone.
The government banned all two-stroke auto-rickshaws in urban areas in 2002 giving permission to run the four-stroke CNG-run three-wheelers.
The lifespan was set at nine years however later it was extended up to 11 years in two times amid strong demand from the owners' association.
Nearly 13,000 CNG-run three-wheelers are now plying the city streets commercially and the economic lifespan of an auto-rickshaw is 11 years.
