Autorickshaw drivers protested against the ban on their vehicles by blocking roads at Agargaon and Mirpur 10. The protest began at around 10:30 AM on Sunday, May 19, causing severe traffic congestion across Mirpur.
During the demonstration, autorickshaw drivers locked the stairs of the Mirpur 10 Metro Rail Station, preventing passengers from using the stairs to enter or exit. Many office-goers were stuck inside the station.
Passengers traveling by bus and other motor vehicles faced significant delays across the capital. However, some relief was provided by the metro rail. Passengers disembarked from buses and used the metro to reach destinations such as Kazipara, Agargaon, and Motijheel.
On-site observations showed that passengers heading to nearby destinations chose to walk or take rickshaws. Those traveling to Agargaon, Farmgate, or Motijheel went to the metro station, leading to heavy crowds at Mirpur 10 Metro Station.
Munshi Sabbir Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Mirpur Model Police Station, stated that the autorickshaw drivers had gathered at Mirpur 10 intersection and were protesting at various points on the roads against the ban.
The protests followed a directive from Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader to halt the operation of battery-operated rickshaws deemed dangerous and unfit for use in Dhaka`s alleys. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) announced that legal action would be taken if the use of battery or motor-operated rickshaws, vans, and dilapidated motor vehicles was not stopped.
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