Labour rights activists demanded on Sunday that the government should introduce a system of issuing licences and route permits and a policy on battery-run three-wheelers such as rickshaws.
They raised the demands while addressing a rally, organised by the Battery-run Rickshaw-Van Sramik Union, held beside Dhupkhola International Football Playground in Bangladesh capital Dhaka.
Labour leaders said that a ban on battery-run three-wheelers would never been accepted as such a decision would directly impact about 50 lakh drivers鈥� families.
Authorities concerned must come up with logical solutions considering the livelihood of the drivers and bringing discipline on the road, said the leaders.
Labour leader and Garment Workers鈥� Trade Union Centre deputy general secretary Monzur Moin said that the government must take steps to provide training and introduce a licencing system for the drivers of battery-run three wheelers.
鈥榃e demand the government introduce a route permit system and formulate a logical policy for battery-run three-wheelers,鈥� stated Moin.
Communist Party of Bangladesh Dhaka city south unit general secretary and Battery-run Rickshaw-Van Sramik Union adviser Joly Talukder said that the three-point charter of demands would help in bringing discipline on the road without affecting livelihood of the drivers.
Speaking about the decision to ban battery-run three-wheelers, Joly said that the decision-makers served interest of the bourgeoisie exploiting working-class people.
Battery-run Rickshaw-Van Sramik Union general secretary Abdul Kuddus demanded that the licences be given to the drivers not to the battery-run three-wheeler owners.
Battery-run Rickshaw-Van Sramik Union organising secretary Liton Nandy, joint general secretaryAriful Islam Nadim and the union鈥檚 Jatrabari thana unit general secretary Ripon Mia, among others, also spoke at the rally.
