Commuters suffer as rickshaw-pullers' protests gather momentum

Protesting rickshaw-pullers blocked several points on important roads in Dhaka on Tuesday causing huge tailbacks on both sides of roads.

Office-goers and students of different schools and colleges suffered immensely, alongside other commuters, as they got stuck in the gridlock. Many were seen walking to their destinations. 

Rickshaw-pullers have been staging demos since Sunday as authorities of Dhaka's both city corporations banned rickshaws on three major streets, in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the capital. 

Thousands of rickshaw-pullers and owners took to the streets and started sit-ins at different points in front of Jamuna Future Park, Bashundhara residential area’s gate, Norda, Gulshan Notun Bazar, Badda, Middle Badda, Merul Badda, Rampura Bridge, Rampura Bazar, Malibagh, Mugda para, Khilgaon Bishwa Road, Maniknagar, Malibagh and Sayedabad since morning.  

At a meeting on July 3, a special committee, formed with Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon as its head, decided to stop the plying of illegal vehicles and stop occupation of footpaths and illegal parking in the capital. It alsodecided to ban the plying of rickshaws on three major thoroughfares from July 7, in an effort to ease the growing traffic congestion.

The three roads are Kuril-Sayedabad road by Rampura and Khilgaon, Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate and Science Laboratory intersection to Shahbagh intersection.