Drivers of battery-powered autorickshaws staged a protest on Wednesday by blocking a road at the Doyaganj intersection in Jatrabari, Dhaka, demanding permission to operate on main roads, which subsequently led to a clash with police, leaving two officers injured.
The demonstration began around noon, causing severe traffic congestion in the area.
Despite requests from law enforcement to clear the road, the protesters refused and turned violent, said Jatrabari police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Faruk Ahmed.
“The drivers blocked the road, demanding the right to operate on main roads. When severe traffic congestion occurred, we asked them to clear the area, but they attacked the police instead. Two officers sustained injuries and are receiving treatment,” OC Faruk said.
To control the situation, additional police forces were deployed to Doyaganj and its surrounding areas.
The protest comes a day after the High Court ordered a ban on battery-powered rickshaws in the Dhaka metropolitan area.
On Tuesday, a High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi directed the authorities concerned to stop the operation of these vehicles within three days.
