Owners, drivers threaten tougher movement

Owners and drivers of auto-rickshaws yesterday threatened to launch a tougher movement, if the government's ban on three-wheelers on highways is not withdrawn immediately.

Meanwhile, agitating transport workers withdrew their siege of the first Buriganga Bridge after five days as authorities concerned assured that the existing low toll rates would be effective.

At Dhaka Reporters' Unity, transport owners and drivers under the banner of "Bangladesh Auto-rickshaw Auto-tempo Sangram Parishad" made the threat at a discussion.

"We request the government to consider our demands; otherwise we will be compelled to begin a tough movement," said Golam Faruk, convener of the parishad.

The parishad's demands include ending extortion by law enforcers and political leaders from auto-rickshaw owners and drivers, and organising training for drivers.      

On July 27, the road transport and bridges ministry issued an order, banning three-wheeler auto-rickshaws, auto-tempos and other slow-moving and unfit vehicles on highways.

The order, which was enforced to reduce accident, came to effect on August 1. Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, at a programme in Chittagong yesterday, said the government will not compromise with the ban, reports our correspondent.

"In future, we will construct by-lane beside four-lane highways for the auto-rickshaws and other small vehicles," he said.

In Pabna, thousands of CNG and auto-rickshaw owners and drivers demonstrated at the district headquarters protesting the ban.

They also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through the deputy commissioner, demanding withdrawal of the ban.

Meanwhile, transport workers withdrew their siege of the Buriganga Bridge as local lawmakers told the demonstrators that the old toll rates would be effective until further decision, said Md Abdur Razzaq, officer-in-charge of Shyampur Police Station.

Three-wheeler auto rickshaw owners, drivers, truck and lorry workers, rickshaw-pullers and drivers of vans blockaded the bridge on August 1 protesting the steep rise in toll rates.