Dhaka, Nov 24 (V7N) – Protests by battery-operated rickshaw drivers demanding the withdrawal of the High Court’s ban on their vehicles have caused significant traffic congestion and public suffering in Dhaka.

Thousands of rickshaw drivers gathered near the Jatiya Press Club on Sunday morning to press their 11-point demands, blocking key roads in the Paltan, Press Club, and High Court areas. This left hundreds of commuters stranded for hours.

Rakibul Hasan, a passenger on a Savar Paribahan bus, described being stuck in a gridlock near Matsya Bhaban. “When I realized the protest had blocked the road to the Press Club, I had no choice but to walk to Gulistan,” he shared.

Another passenger, Shafiqur Rahman, expressed frustration, saying, “Blocking roads has become a norm. No one considers the plight of common people. Protests should not disrupt public life.”

Similar disruptions were reported in Mohammadpur and Jatrabari, where rickshaw drivers demanded access to main roads. These blockades resulted in severe traffic congestion in areas such as Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, and Gabtoli.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Snehashish Kumar Das of the Tejgaon Traffic Zone noted that the protests had slowed traffic across the city and increased congestion on the Moghbazar flyover. He warned that traffic pressure could worsen in the afternoon, as roadblocks in one area create ripple effects throughout Dhaka.

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