Staff Reporter :
Hundreds of motorcyclists blocked the different roads of the capital yesterday protesting the ban on mobile app-based ride-sharing services.
As a result, the level of sufferings of the city dwellers crossed the limitation.
Half of the seats in buses were left vacant in public transports as per government order.
On Thursday, the motorcyclists blocked roads and demonstrated at Jatrabari, in front of the National Press Club, Shahbagh, Danmondhi-27, and several other areas of the capital, demanding immediate reversal of the decision.
Earlier on Wednesday, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) suspended operating motorcycles under mobile app-based ride-sharing services to ensure health safety guidelines and social distancing.
This ban will remain in force until further order. Earlier, the decision to increase bus fares by 60 per cent came into effect.
Harun ar Rashid, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told the media, ” around 1pm, hundreds of Uber and Pathao drivers were protesting at the Shahbagh intersection.” At this time there were limited traffic.
Motorcyclists also gathered in front of the National Press Club at around 1.30 pm. They left their motorcycles on the road and stood on the sidewalk, ADC added.
According to the demonstrators, their whole income depends on the ride-sharing services under different apps. So this ban threatens their livelihood and families.
They said that motorcyclists were “kicked in the stomach” with the full ban while public transports were still operating at half capacity.
One of them, Mossaraf Hossain said “After losing our jobs we were completely dependent on ride-sharing services for income.” So we don’t care whatever police do. Another rider said that all other types of vehicles were still operating on the roads, adding that many buses still carry twice of the capacity.
“If the coronavirus doesn’t spread there, how can we spread the virus with one passenger?” He asked, adding: “We won’t accept this inhuman decision.”
Meanwhile, BRTA issued a circular in this regard on Wednesday and sent the directives to the service providing companies.
The ban on running motorcycles under ride-sharing services will remain effective until further notice (two weeks for now), according to the circular.
