Leaders of the organization made these demands at a press conference held in Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club on Sunday (20 September).
Organization President S M Abu Bakar said the livelihoods of millions of working people in the capital and across the country depend on battery-powered auto-rickshaws. Besides, these vehicles are playing an important role in the transportation of nearly 35 million people. He said thousands of auto-rickshaws enter Dhaka every day through various entry points and leave in the evening after work. If entry is controlled, traffic congestion can be reduced.
Among the organization's 10-point demands are—modernization of auto-rickshaws according to BUET design, safe bodies and improved braking systems; introduction of commercial licenses, registration and route permits; providing special licenses or smart cards after mandatory training for drivers, and setting up legal electricity connections and smart prepaid meters in every garage.
Besides, they demanded ensuring legal electricity supply and revenue collection, encouraging the use of lithium-ion batteries instead of lead-acid, separate low-speed or service lanes for auto-rickshaws on main roads, and construction of crossings and overpasses at necessary places.
The demands also include bringing auto-rickshaws under the Road Transport Act and formulating a full legal framework, introducing DNCC- and DSCC-based management, and setting a maximum license limit of 500,000 auto-rickshaws in Dhaka. In addition, they demanded an end to harassment, extortion and dumping, and ensuring representation of owners and workers in road management and planning.
To press home their demands, the organization announced a human chain and submission of a memorandum in front of the National Press Club at 10 am on 22 September. Bangladesh Battery-Powered Auto-rickshaw Owners-Workers Unity Council President Md. Saidul Mollah and General Secretary Md. Nurul Islam were present at the press conference.
