Drivers of CNG-run autorickshaws held a protest in front of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority headquarters on Wednesday, demanding a reduction in the daily rental fee to Tk500 and pressing for nine other demands.
They gathered in front of the BRTA head office in Mohakhali, Dhaka, at around 11:30am under the banner of the Dhaka District Four-Stroke Autorickshaw Drivers Union, which is affiliated with the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.
During their sit-in, drivers chanted slogans such as "Workers of the world, unite," "Our demands must be met" and "Fair fares must be set."
The protesters said they paid Tk1,700 in daily rentals to the autorickshaw owners, and half-day rentals amounted to Tk900.
They claimed that owners were planning to increase the rent further, a move they said must be stopped.
The primary demand is to set the daily rental fee at Tk500.
The drivers said they had been subjected to exploitation by the owners' association since 2015.
One driver, Sabur Ali, said that while the government-fixed daily rental was Tk700, owners were charging between Tk900 and Tk1,150 for a single shift and up to Tk1,800 for a double shift.
He added that the owners' association had been attempting to increase the rent since May 23, 2022.
The drivers are also demanding receipts for the payments made to the owners.
Another driver, Shahabuddin, said while there were officially 12,500 CNG-run autorickshaws registered in Dhaka, approximately 30,000 operated within the city.
He said the existence of the illegal vehicles allowed owners to charge unauthorized amounts, making it impossible for drivers to adhere to meter rates.
Meanwhile, driver Sujan Mia said passengers often believed that drivers were exploiting them, but no one understood or listened to the drivers' plight.
“As there is no proper employment contract, drivers are left jobless three to four times a year. The drivers are seeking a permanent solution to these issues and urge the interim government to address their concerns.”
