Staff Reporter :
The CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers on Sunday went on a 24-hour strike in the city to press home their seven-point demand, including ending of harassment by traffic police.
Their other demands include, stopping penalty by the traffic police, releasing drivers who were jailed, arrangement of sufficient parking spaces, re-adjustment of the government-set daily deposit charge paid by workers to owners and issuance of appointment letters or identity cards to drivers.
Although a number of auto- rickshaws come out on the streets at many places, including Saatrasta, Modhubagh, Motijheel and Gulistan in the city, they were driven out by the protesters.
Several drivers, who were not observing the strike, claimed that they were assaulted by the fellow striking drivers.
“In some areas, auto-rickshaws on the street were being vandalised at Saatrasta intersection and Bangabazar area,” alleged some drivers who are against the strike.
Momtaj Uddin, a driver, told this reporter that he was obstructed by the protesters at Saatrasta and Modhubag areas but he somehow managed to escape.
Meanwhile, Kamal Ahmed, General Secretary of Dhaka District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Drivers Union said, “We will give a memorandum to the authorities concerned. If the demands are not met, we will go for greater movement.”
On the other hand, a Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Traffic Division of Bangladesh Police preferring anonymity alleged that the auto drivers randomly charge high fare to the passengers violating government fixed fare chart.
“If any driver is found doing wrong, he will be penalized. There is nothing wrong in it. If the owners charge higher amount of money to them, then they can complain with evidence but they can not violate government rules,” he said.
After a visit to different parts of the city, this reporter found the sufferings of the city dwellers due to the lack of three-wheelers, mainly during the morning and the evening rush hours.
“Government’s apathy to bring system among the owners, drivers and other stakeholders have put the commuters to the sufferings,” Aklima Hamid, a victim of the situation told The New Nation on Sunday.
“Auto drivers and their owners have long been doing different types of irregularities and cashing in the situation, while the law enforcers were also becoming beneficiary as none is there to solve the problems,” she angrily said.
And taking the advantage of the strike, some drivers who defied the strike are demanding eye-brow raising fare. Helpless passengers are seen yielding to their demands.
Aklima Akter, one such victim to the exorbitant fare had to wait outside the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for 30 minutes before she could get a CNG who would charge no less than Tk 250 to go to Mohakhali.
“Will their demand ever be stopped?” asked Mohammad Malek, who used to go to his Uttara office with colleagues from Motijheel on auto-rickshaw.
“On most days we negotiate a price with the driver since they are reluctant to go by meter. Now they’ve come up with new demands,” he said.
The CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers on Sunday went on a 24-hour strike in the city to press home their seven-point demand, including ending of harassment by traffic police.
Their other demands include, stopping penalty by the traffic police, releasing drivers who were jailed, arrangement of sufficient parking spaces, re-adjustment of the government-set daily deposit charge paid by workers to owners and issuance of appointment letters or identity cards to drivers.
Although a number of auto- rickshaws come out on the streets at many places, including Saatrasta, Modhubagh, Motijheel and Gulistan in the city, they were driven out by the protesters.
Several drivers, who were not observing the strike, claimed that they were assaulted by the fellow striking drivers.
“In some areas, auto-rickshaws on the street were being vandalised at Saatrasta intersection and Bangabazar area,” alleged some drivers who are against the strike.
Momtaj Uddin, a driver, told this reporter that he was obstructed by the protesters at Saatrasta and Modhubag areas but he somehow managed to escape.
Meanwhile, Kamal Ahmed, General Secretary of Dhaka District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Drivers Union said, “We will give a memorandum to the authorities concerned. If the demands are not met, we will go for greater movement.”
On the other hand, a Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Traffic Division of Bangladesh Police preferring anonymity alleged that the auto drivers randomly charge high fare to the passengers violating government fixed fare chart.
“If any driver is found doing wrong, he will be penalized. There is nothing wrong in it. If the owners charge higher amount of money to them, then they can complain with evidence but they can not violate government rules,” he said.
After a visit to different parts of the city, this reporter found the sufferings of the city dwellers due to the lack of three-wheelers, mainly during the morning and the evening rush hours.
“Government’s apathy to bring system among the owners, drivers and other stakeholders have put the commuters to the sufferings,” Aklima Hamid, a victim of the situation told The New Nation on Sunday.
“Auto drivers and their owners have long been doing different types of irregularities and cashing in the situation, while the law enforcers were also becoming beneficiary as none is there to solve the problems,” she angrily said.
And taking the advantage of the strike, some drivers who defied the strike are demanding eye-brow raising fare. Helpless passengers are seen yielding to their demands.
Aklima Akter, one such victim to the exorbitant fare had to wait outside the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for 30 minutes before she could get a CNG who would charge no less than Tk 250 to go to Mohakhali.
“Will their demand ever be stopped?” asked Mohammad Malek, who used to go to his Uttara office with colleagues from Motijheel on auto-rickshaw.
“On most days we negotiate a price with the driver since they are reluctant to go by meter. Now they’ve come up with new demands,” he said.
