Staff Correspondent

Drivers of battery-run rickshaws set fire to a police box at Kalshi intersection in the capital’s Mirpur area on Sunday following clashes with law enforcers as they were demonstrating against a government ban on running their vehicles on Dhaka streets.

A fire service officer said the drivers set the police box on fire around 4:15pm.

On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot around 4:32 pm and brought the situation under control.

Mukhlesur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Pallabi Police Station, said necessary steps were being taken. He rebuked the protesters for turning violent.

The drivers of the electric rickshaws staged demonstration blocking roads in Dhaka’s Mirpur, Pallabi and some other areas during morning-afternoon on Sunday, obstructing traffic movement in the area.

The protesters also vandalised 8-10 vehicles at the Mirpur-10 intersection after 2:30pm. Police chased them, pushing them to Kalshi intersection.

During demonstrations at Kashi, the agitators set fire to a police box. Upon hearing the news, police reached the spot to disperse them, sparking a chase and counter-chase. By 5pm, the protesting electric rickshaw pullers had left the scene. Police reportedly arrested one from the spot.

Munshi Sabbir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said the traffic movement in the area remained halted for four hours due to the demonstration, causing immense sufferings to the commuters.

Earlier on Wednesday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader instructed the authorities concerned to take steps to stop the movement of battery-run three wheelers on the roads in Dhaka city.