No new e-auto rickshaws without registering the ones already running, warn owners and workers

The Bangladesh Battery-operated Rickshaw and Easybike Owners-Workers Unity Council has demanded registration of the battery-operated auto rickshaws and easybikes currently running, before approval is given to bring new e-auto rickshaws onto the roads.

Leaders and activists of the organisation formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Sunday, demanding registration, licences and protection of livelihoods, along with an eight-point charter. Besides the central and Dhaka city leaders of the organisation, hundreds of auto rickshaw owners and drivers took part.

Speakers at the human chain said they do not want eviction; they want the opportunity to earn a living legally. If the running auto rickshaws are brought under registration and QR codes, the government will get revenue, discipline will return to the roads, and the livelihoods of lakhs of families will be protected.

The organisation president, SM Abu Bakar, said at the human chain that the government is planning to bring new e-auto rickshaws in exchange for money from a few institutions. This will further increase traffic congestion in the capital.

He said they have no objection to the government approving e-auto rickshaws, but the currently running auto rickshaws must be registered first.

Abu Bakar said lakhs of people earn their livelihood from the running auto rickshaws, yet a group is scheming to shut them down.

He said, we too want to come under registration. We agree to take registration following the rules set by the government. But the running auto rickshaws will not be allowed to be shut down to bring new e-auto rickshaws onto the roads. If needed, we will be compelled to go for a tougher movement.

They placed an eight-point demand before the government. The demands include permission and a licence or QR code for the running auto rickshaws to ply on the roads, no disconnection of electricity connections of owners with valid connections without cause, and bringing drivers under training and valid licences.

The other demands include stopping unnecessary harassment and dumping by law enforcement agencies, making power-saving lithium batteries easily available, arranging U-turns at important points on VIP roads, and fixing registration fees and taxes at a reasonable and tolerable level.

From the human chain, the owners-workers leaders reiterated the demand for registration of the running auto rickshaws.