Chittagong Bureau :
The transport crisis in the port city, Chittagong, has deepened following the suspension of battery driven rickshaws since August 31 last.
The sufferings of the city dwellers have mounted in absence of adequate transport on the city streets.
Besides, the CNG driven auto rickshaw and other paddled rickshaws are demanding such a high fare that it is going beyond common people’s capacity.
Following the crisis, Mahbubul Alam, President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in a statement issued to the press expressed his grave concern over the situation.
He said the commuters including school-going children, RMG workers, service-holders, and small businessmen are the worst sufferers of the crisis that has been created intentionally by a vested quarter.
He appealed to the Government to resolve the crisis as soon as possible for greater interest of the people.
Terming the condition of the common commuters as heart-rending, Mahbubul Alam, urged the authority to take an immediate step in this regard.
CCCI Boss disclosed that 1000 buses, 700 humna hauler, 1600 tempos, and 10,000 CNG autorickshaws are quite inadequate for 4 million people of the city.
Earlier, a joint meeting of the Chittagong City Corporation, BRTA, Chittagong District administration and Chittagong Metropolitan Police was held at CMP head quarter on August 25 that took a decision of banning the movement of battery driven rickshaws on the city streets from August 30.
The meeting had asked the owners of the battery driven rickshaws to remove battery from their vehicle by August 29.
According to owners, more than 70,000 Battery Driven Rickshaws are moving on the city streets while in accordance of the traffic department of CMP the numbers would be around 1,50,000.
Protesting the decision of the authorities, the drivers and the owners of the battery driven rickshaws under the banner of Battery Driven Rickshaws Owners and Drivers Federation (BDRODF) are observing different action programmes in the city including lay seize of the Mayor Office.
In a meeting held at the Shaheed Minar premises, the speakers sounded a note of caution to paralyse the city if their demands are not met.
BDRODF had placed a seven point demand to the Mayor of the CCC. Otherwise, they would go for movement demanding the resignation of the Mayor.
