The High Court’s directive to cease the operation of battery-powered rickshaws within Dhaka Metropolitan Area has led to significant disruptions, as drivers staged protests for a second consecutive day in Jurain Rail Gate.
This has resulted in a complete halt to rail services, with three trains stranded mid-route as of Friday (22 December), according to information confirmed by the Bangladesh Railway Control Room.
A duty officer at the control room said that the demonstrations at Jurain Rail Gate had forced the closure of the railway line.
Currently, the trains affected include Nakshikantha, stationed in Dhaka; Narayanganj Commuter 5, halted at Shyampur; and the Madhumati Intercity, stranded at Mawa.
Consequently, train operations between Dhaka and Narayanganj, as well as the Padma Link route, remain suspended, while services on other routes continue uninterrupted.
The unrest follows an earlier protest on 20 December, when rickshaw drivers obstructed major roads across Dhaka, paralysing vehicular movement and causing severe inconvenience to residents.
Demonstrations escalated into clashes with police at Dayaganj intersection, injuring two police personnel.
On that occasion, rickshaw drivers also blocked roads between Kazipara and Shewrapara, exacerbating the plight of commuters.
The protests began after the High Court issued its directive on 19 November, mandating a ban on battery-powered rickshaws within three days.
The Court further issued a ruling questioning why the authorities’ inaction in implementing the ban should not be deemed unlawful.
The unrest highlights the rickshaw drivers' frustration with the abrupt enforcement of the ban, which they claim threatens their livelihood.
The demonstrations, compounded by rail disruptions, have created chaos for daily commuters and highlighted a contentious policy issue affecting both the transport sector and urban mobility.
