Battery-powered, pedal-rickshaw drivers standoff, ‘riot’ in Banani

Drivers of battery-powered and pedal rickshaws have engaged in a standoff amid an initiative to stop the movement of autorickshaws in Dhaka’s Gulshan.

Battery-run drivers have been gathering on Banani Road No. 11 since Monday morning, reports bdnews24.com.

The situation, however, boiled over when drivers of the two types of three-wheelers came to a standoff at Bridge No. 11 around 12pm, police said.

An incident involving someone trying to record a video or snap a photograph sparked the incident.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Gulshan Division Md Ziaur Rahman said, “The society authorities, the city corporation and the police are jointly trying to stop the movement of battery-powered rickshaws in the Gulshan Society area. Some registered pedal rickshaws are already operating there.

“There was a police check post at Bridge No. 11 to prevent the entry of rickshaws from outside. The incident began when the battery-powered rickshaws were stopped there.

“Then, when the battery-powered rickshaw drivers and the society’s pedal-rickshaw drivers gathered, the two sides engaged in a a standoff. At one stage, there was a chase and counter-chase between them.”

He said that although traffic was disrupted on Road No. 11 at that time, it returned to normal in a bit.

Meanwhile, bystanders vented their frustration on social media, describing the incident as a “riot”.

In several video clips shared on Facebook, “the rickshaw drivers” were seen swinging sticks at the traffic police box on Bridge No. 11 while pulling at and removing police barricades.

Rickshaw pullers were also seen attacking several motorcycle riders with sticks as drivers on both sides vandalised each others’ vehicles.

Abu Sayem Nayan, Assistant Commissioner of Traffic Gulshan Zone, said, “I have heard that those who tried to take pictures or videos were actually beaten on sight.”

Banani Police Station Inspector (Operations) AKM Moinuddin said that the Gulshan Society was not allowing battery-run rickshaws to enter, prompting the drivers to gather in the morning.

“They were gradually becoming more aggressive. They were trying to attack pedal rickshaws when they saw them. Later, around 1pm, we brought the situation under control.”

Earlier, the authorities tried to stop the movement of battery-powered autorickshaws in Gulshan from Saturday morning.

That day, police and society security personnel were deployed at several locations including Banani No. 11, Badda-Gulshan Link Road, Gulshan 2, Kalachandpur and Police Plaza. They blocked entry into Gulshan through these avenues.

As the day progressed, the drivers’ anger grew as they took out a procession with their rickshaws from Banani Road No. 11 around noon. They demanded battery rickshaws be allowed to run on those roads if pedalled ones are.

That day, some drivers vandalised several pedal rickshaws. This led to a ruckus in different areas including the Police Plaza.

At one stage, in the face of the drivers’ protests, the movement of autorickshaws at Gulshan and Banani “normalised” from noon onwards.

That day, the president of the Gulshan Society Omar Sadat said that since the fall of the government on Aug 5, the interim government has not managed to control the battery-powered rickshaws.

“We have been receiving regular complaints that diplomats are being harassed by these rickshaws in various ways. In addition, there are court orders involving battery rickshaws. Considering these issues, we have started working with the city corporation and the police to stop the movement of battery rickshaws in the Gulshan area.”

Omar claimed that he had also spoken to rickshaw drivers and owners over the issue.

When asked about the situation after Saturday afternoon, Omar Sadat said: “Not everything happens in one day; it is an ongoing process. We will make every effort to make this area beautiful and safe.”

He said that after the attack on Holey Artisan, new rules and regulations were made involving rickshaw movement in this area.

He spoke about 450 registered rickshaws in the area and that police had information about all the drivers.