Battery rickshaw drivers lift blockade near Press Club

Battery-powered auto-rickshaw drivers have lifted their blockade of the road in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, restoring normal traffic from Paltan towards the Press Club, but they have warned of tougher action if their electricity connections are not reinstated promptly.

The blockade was cleared shortly before 1 pm on Monday, after the drivers staged a demonstration and chanted slogans demanding the restoration of the electricity supplies used to charge their vehicles' batteries. The protest had caused significant disruption along the Press Club–Paltan corridor and generated congestion on adjacent roads, leaving commuters facing considerable inconvenience.

According to the protesters, they depend on electricity-powered charging facilities to keep their vehicles operational and earn a livelihood. Consequently, the sudden disconnection has left many unable to charge their batteries or operate their rickshaws. Moreover, the drivers maintained that the move had effectively jeopardised their daily earnings, as they could neither recharge their vehicles nor continue their regular work.

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Nevertheless, the demonstrators indicated that the withdrawal of the blockade should not be construed as an end to their campaign. They cautioned that they could announce more stringent programmes if the electricity supply is not restored without delay.