The Appellate Division on Monday issued a one-month status quo on the High Court order that banned the unauthorised and unlicensed battery-run rickshaws from plying the Dhaka city streets amid protests.
During the court hearing, battery-run rickshaw drivers had blocked roads in the capital鈥檚 Agargaon area on Monday, the sixth day of the ongoing protest, causing commuters to suffer badly.聽聽
Justice Md Rezaul Haque, chamber judge of the Appellate Division, granted the government interim permission to allow battery-run rickshaws on the city roads, emphasising the socio-economic implications of an abrupt prohibition.
Appearing for the state, attorney general Md Asaduzzaman argued that an immediate ban would jeopardise the livelihoods of over one lakh drivers and owners dependent on these rickshaws in the capital.
He assured the court that the government plans to frame a comprehensive policy within a month to regulate the operation of battery-run rickshaws.
Soon after the Supreme Court order, Rickshaw Van Easy-bike Sramik Union in a statement claimed that it was a primary victory for their movement.
The statement also demanded logical route permit for battery-run rickshaws and driving licences for their drivers as a permanent solution to the issue.
The High Court, in its November 19 ruling, ordered the government to stop within three days the plying of unlicensed battery-run rickshaws and auto-rickshaws on the city streets, citing frequent road accidents and safety concerns.
The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi also issued a rule that asked the government to explain in four weeks why the failure to regulate these vehicles should not be declared illegal.
Secretaries of the ministries of local government, rural development and cooperatives, and home and the inspector general of police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner and the authorities of the two Dhaka city corporations, among others, were made respondents in the ruling that asked them to respond within four weeks.
People鈥檚 sufferings intensified with the continuation of the battery-run rickshaw drivers鈥� street protests for the sixth day on Monday in a row.
Rickshaw pullers blocked roads and rail crossings since November 20, a day after the High Court directed the authorities concerned not to allow battery-run rickshaws on the Dhaka city streets.
On Monday, hundreds of battery-run rickshaw drivers blocked several roads in the capital鈥檚 Agargaon area, causing sufferings to people, many of whom were patients.
Many commuters were also forced to divert their vehicles in search for other routes to eventually find those roads were also blocked, commuters said.聽
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police officer-in-charge Mohammad Golam Azam said that the protesters blocked roads four about four hours since 10:15am.
鈥榃e have restored the vehicular movement at about 2:15pm,鈥� the officer added.
He said that many rickshaw drivers came from Mirpur-1 and Mirpur-2 to join the protest as most of the battery-run rickshaw garages were in the Agargaon area.
Scores of rickshaw drivers were injured in clashes with the members of law enforcement and security agencies during the protest with some being arrested.
Rickshaw Van Easy-bike Sramik Union placed a 12-point charter of demands, including scrapping the High Court order and allowing them to ply city roads except major roads.
The union also urged the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority to provide logical route permit, licences and training for the battery-run rickshaw drivers.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Sheikh Sazzad on Monday held a meeting with the union.
After holding the meeting at the Dhaka Metro Politan headquarters, the union joint general secretary Ariful Islam Nadim said that the DMP commissioner assured them to form a liaison committee engaging all stakeholders, including police, rickshaw drivers鈥� representatives and urban planners following the court鈥檚 directives.
Asked about the liaison committee, DMP spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman said that they could not say anything right now before receiving the court鈥檚 directives.
According to union leaders, around 60 lakh battery-run rickshaws, including 8,00,000 in Dhaka city, across the country.
