Battery-run rickshaw drivers in Sylhet demonstrate against police drives

Hundreds of drivers of battery-run rickshaws took to the streets in Sylhet city today, in protest against drives by the administration, including police, against the vehicles.

Under the banner of "Sylhet Battery-chalito Rickshaw Malik Sramik Oikya Parishad", they gathered at the Alia Madrasa ground in the city's Chowhatta area in the morning.

Around noon, they brought out a procession towards Chowhatta Point, where they attempted to block the road with bamboo sticks and chanted slogans seeking permission for movement of battery-run rickshaw.

Hours later, they marched through Sylhet city streets before assembling at Bandarbazar Point and staged a sit-in in front of the deputy commissioner's office.

They handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, demanding the legalisation of battery-run rickshaws and urging for an end to the ongoing crackdowns against them.

During the protest, they allegedly vandalised a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Later, at around 3:30pm, they withdrew the blockade.

Today's protest followed three days of police operations, during which approximately 100 rickshaws were seized and electricity was disconnected at 11 battery-run rickshaw garages across the city.

Mohammad Saiful Islam, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said, "The battery-run rickshaw drivers today protested to press home their demands. Their programme was peaceful except for a faction that blocked the roads and vandalised a few vehicles. However, the situation was controlled and they left the street."