Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Ride Sharing Bikers Union has demanded stopping of police harassment and recognition of app-dependent workers as workers.
The demand was announced from a human chain organized in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Tuesday. The backs of the drivers of the ride share are stuck against the wall, exclaimed at the human chain.
It further said that a memorandum would be submitted to the government within a week.
Even then, if the demand is not met, the drivers of the ride share will be forced to take to the streets again.
At that time hundreds of ride share drivers took part in the program and chanted various slogans in favour the demands. Apart from Dhaka, the program was also organized in Chittagong and Sylhet.
Earlier on Monday, a rider named Shawkat Ali set fire to his own motorcycle in the city’s Badda. Before that, a traffic sergeant took Shawkat’s papers. Shawkat requested the police not to file a case. He requested to return the car papers. But he became frustrated and angry at not getting the papers back, Shawkat set fire to his motorcycle.
In protest of the incident, the app-based drivers’ union of Bangladesh announced a 24-hour strike from 12:01 pm yesterday and announced six points including stoppage of police harassment.
As part of the program, the drivers of Ride Share held a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Tuesday.
Belal Ahmed, General Secretary of the union, read out six points from the human chain.
The demands include recognition of app-based workers as workers.
The demonstrators said, they do not support the burning of the bike of the driver of the ride share and requested the government to look into the circumstances under which a biker was forced to do so.
The bikers who took part in the human chain said their backs had been stuck to the wall. Various companies are deceiving them. They are pocketing most of the money. As a result, it is difficult for bikers to maintain their families. So they were compelled to go on a 24-hour strike, protesters added. Everyone was urged to return to their work at the end of the deadline.
