Auto-rickshaw drivers on Sunday blocked the road in front of Kotwali police station in Chattogram protesting at police harassment, including arbitrary fines and extortion.听
The protest, which took place from 12 noon to 1:30pm at the Kotwali crossing in the city, disrupted traffic on the busy route from Kotwali to Chawk Bazar.听
Traffic police fine them whenever they stop to pick or drop passengers, the protesters said.
They also said that although there was no designated stop near the Kotwali crossing, they were being fined Tk 5,000.
鈥榃e barely make Tk 2,000 a day, and on top of that, we have to pay bribes to operate on the roads,鈥� one of the protesters said.
The road blockade caused traffic congestion from Laldighi to Kotwali. Later at about 1:30pm on the day, police intervened and assured the drivers of resolving their problem.听
Chattagram Metropolitan police assistant commissioner for Traffic Kotwali Zone Mohammad Mariful Karim said, 鈥榃e spoke to the drivers and asked them to bring their grievances to our office instead of disrupting vehicular movement.鈥�
He added that the protesters cleared the road after getting assurances.
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