CNG drivers block road with strong message
CNG drivers are protesting by blocking the road in front of BRTA No. 13 in Mirpur in the capital with various demands. As a result, traffic on that road is closed. Hundreds of people are suffering.
In addition, it is known that CNG-powered autorickshaw drivers have also blocked roads in Mirpur-1, Mirpur-14 and Rampura in the capital. They have been observing this program since Sunday morning to protest against fines or imprisonment for charging more than the fare specified on the meter.
It is learned that the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has ordered strict action against gas or petrol-powered autorickshaw drivers who charge more than the fare specified on the meter. Under this directive, if evidence of charging excess fare is found, the driver may be fined up to Tk 50,000 or imprisoned for 6 months, or both.
The matter was informed in a directive signed by BRTA Director (Engineering) Shitangshu Shekhar Biswas on February 10. A letter in this regard has also been sent to the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Protesting against such a decision and the immediate implementation of the daily deposit of Tk 900 for CNG autorickshaws in Dhaka Metro as set by BRTA, the drivers of the CNG Autorickshaw Drivers’ Unity Council have been making 9-point demands.
Their other demands are that the 5,000 CNG autorickshaws approved by the government for Dhaka Metro in 2007 should be immediately registered (blue-book) in the names of the drivers, 15,000 more CNG autorickshaws should be approved in the names of the drivers, in line with the size of Dhaka city, and that the state should provide Tk 1 million in compensation if a CNG autorickshaw driver dies in an accident while working.
In addition, the right to free trade unions should be given as per ILO Convention 87, all types of harassment of drivers by the administration should be stopped, no parking cases should be stopped without determining adequate parking spaces, autorickshaws should be allowed to ply on highways in lanes/bylanes, and the anti-worker clauses and rules of the Road Transport Act 2018 and Rules 2023 should be repealed.
Earlier, CNG autorickshaw drivers blocked the road in front of the BRTA headquarters in Banani on January 20 at noon with these demands.
It is worth noting that the current minimum fare (for the first two kilometers) set by the government is 40 taka. After that, the fare per kilometer is 12 taka and the waiting bill is 2 taka per minute.
However, passengers complain that it is not possible to travel for short distances under 150 taka in Dhaka.
Do Follow: greenbanglaonline24
