Riders call for strike to stop 'police harassment'

Dhaka Ridesharing Drivers Union (DRDU) has called for work abstention across the country on Tuesday (September 28) to press home their six-point demand including harassment by police.

DRDU secretary Belal Ahmed said, “Today a driver set fire to his motorcycle for harassment on the road. Such harassment is constantly happening. If today’s incident does not shake the conscience of police, will it be shaken if we sacrifice our lives?”

He alleged that traffic police caught motorcycles just after braking somewhere. The government should determine places for us. Then we will not stand here and there. Give us as much space possible regarding the city capacity. If we are given only 10 spots, we will stand at those spots only.”

“We are staging demonstration for sixth time and will end up with peaceful movement,” DRDU secretary said.

The six demands are:

1. To recognise Apps-based workers as workers and evaluated for work and time.

2. To fix commission at 10 percent for all types of rides.

3. Provide parking space for ridesharing vehicles in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet.

4. Stop all forms of police harassment.

5. To keep the listed ridesharing vehicles exempted from Advanced Income Tax (AIT) under public transport.

6. To return the AIT collected from the listed vehicle owners last year.