Battery-operated rickshaw drivers formed human chain in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city yesterday demanding alternative employment opportunities for them before executing the ban against those vehicles.

The programme was organised by the district unit of Samajtantrik Sramik Front (SSF). Dulal Chandra Mallik, district president of battery-run rickshaw owners-drivers association, presided over the programme.

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal district unit member-secretary Manisha Chakraborty, organising secretary Shahidul Islam, and Samajtantrik Sramik Front leaders Babul Talukdar, Mohsin Mir and Jahangir Hossain Didar addressed the programme, among others. After human chain and agitation rally, participants brought out a procession in the city.

Participants of the programme said the battery-run rickshaw owners and drivers came from lower income group and depended on driving those vehicles for maintaining their livelihood.

So before executing ban upon those vehicles, alternative employment opportunities should be provided for the affected class to maintain their livelihood, they demanded.