Auto-rickshaw strike withdrawn before enforcement

CNG-run auto-rickshaw owners and workers have called off their 72-hour strike before enforcement in the capital as Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has assured them of meeting most of the demands.

The announcement came on Monday following a tripartite meeting held at the BRTA head office. BRTA high officials, police and representatives from auto-rickshaw owners and workers attended the meeting.

A section of auto-rickshaw owners and workers, under the banner of ‘Dhaka City CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Owners-Workers Sangram Parishad’, on 2 October announced a 72-hour strike from Tuesday, to press home their nine-point demand.

They also organised several programmes like human-chain, demonstration to realize their demands.

Sangram Parishad's demands include raising auto-rickshaw fare from Tk 40 to 80 for first two kilometers, Tk 12 to 30 for next per kilometer and waiting charge (per minute) from Tk 2 to 4, imposing ban on illegal auto-rickshaws which are registered in Dhaka district, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and other districts.

“Every point of our demands was discussed in the meeting. BRTA assures us of meeting all of our demands except one, fare hiking. BRTA said they can’t hike the fare as it depends on the higher authorities of the government,’’ Barkat Ullah, convener of Sangram Parishad, told Prothom Alo.

He also said they would call for fresh programmes if their demands are not met by 31 October.

Presided over by BRTA chairman Moshiur Rahman, BRTA director (engineering) Lokman Hossain Mollah, deputy commissioner (traffic North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Prabir Kumar Ray, joint convener of Sangram Parishad ATM Nazmul Hasan were present in the meeting.