Ban on auto-rickshaw to continue

Secretariat Correspondent: The secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, M. A. N. Siddique, on Sunday confirmed that the banning order over movement of auto-rickshaws in highways would be continued.

"The order will not be cancelled amid any outcry," said the secretary.

Earlier the Road Transport and Highways Division has banned auto-rickshaws, vans and bicycles on highways from August 1 (Saturday) 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 on highways, as a result number of plying auto-rickshaws has significantly decreased.

Absence of auto-rickshaws on highways was created sufferings for the commuters.

As part of the drive, the government has issued a circular, and BRTA has already sent letters to all district commissioners regarding the matter.

On the other hand, today 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.

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.

risingbd/ DHAKA/ August 2, 2015/ Shafiq/ Mahfuz