6 held over N`ganj police-auto workers clash

Staff Correspondent: Auto-rickshaw drivers have blocked highways and roads in different places across the country in protest against a ban on auto-rickshaw plying on highways on the third day.

The auto drivers on Monday blocked the Narayanganj`s Dhaka-Chittagong highway`s Signboard, Mouchak, Shimrail Mor and Kanchpur and Madanpur area.

At least six workers have been detained and ten others were injured when police charged button on them while blocking the roads in the area.

Earlier on Sunday, the drivers also locked into clashes with policemen in Feni and Sylhet as the low enforcers tried to free the highways from their blockade and demonstration programmes.

The Road Transport and Highways Division has banned auto-rickshaws, vans and bicycles on highways from August 1 in a bid to reduce road accidents.

From the first day of the ban, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and district administrations are jointly conducting drives against the vehicles on highways.

In Feni, on the day, the agitated drivers blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway near Mohammad Ali area from 10.00am and vandalized at least 30 vehicles.

Drivers locked into a clash with police, leaving at least 10 people including an IS of police injured, as police tried to disperse them from the highway.

On the other hand, in Comilla, auto-rickshaw drivers had blocked highways in Sitakunda and Daudkandi  in protest against the ban and vandalized some vehicles.

In Sylhet, drivers demonstrated and blocked Sylhet-Dhaka highway near Rashidpur. Commuters in the district were facing huge sufferings due to absence of auto-rickshaws on highways.

In Barisal, auto-rickshaw drivers also blocked highways on the day.

risingbd/ NARAYANGANJ/ August 3, 2015/ Rakib/ Mahfuz