Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Autorickshaw Drivers’ Unity Council on Friday announced a rally and memorandum submission programme to press home a series of demands concerning stalled registration, professional security and the daily challenges faced by drivers in the capital.

In a joint statement, organisation convener Sheikh Hanif and member secretary Golap Hossain Siddiqui said the programme will be held on November 16 at 11:00 am  in front of the Jatiya Press Club.

Following the rally, a memorandum will be submitted to the Secretary of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the secretary of the relevant ministry.

According to its leaders, the rally has been called to highlight the longstanding grievances of CNG autorickshaw drivers, who they say are struggling due to an extended halt in the registration process for 5,000 government-approved CNG autorickshaws.

They said this suspension has pushed thousands of drivers into unemployment and deep uncertainty. In addition to this, drivers continue to face complications related to daily deposits, alleged harassment by law enforcement agencies, frequent cases and fines linked to parking restrictions, and obstacles in exercising their lawful trade union rights.

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These layers of pressure, the leaders said, have made the profession increasingly difficult and unstable.

Their demands are immediate issuance of registration (blue book) for the pending 5,000 authorised CNG autorickshaws.

It will also call for strict enforcement of the BRTA-fixed daily deposit rate of Tk 900, arguing that drivers are often compelled to pay higher amounts.

The Unity Council will further insist on state compensation of Tk 10 lakh for the families of drivers who die in road accidents, along with an end to what they described as harassment by law enforcement agencies.

They will urge the authorities to allow drivers their legitimate right to form trade unions and to withdraw no-parking–related cases and fines, replacing them with clearly designated parking zones across Dhaka.

Besides, they will demand the repeal of labour-unfriendly provisions in the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Rules 2022, and call for CNG autorickshaws to be permitted to use the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.

The leaders said the announced programme is intended to be peaceful and aimed at securing the just rights and livelihood protections of drivers. 

They called upon all CNG autorickshaw drivers in Dhaka to participate in the gathering and lend their collective voice to the movement.