Several owners and drivers of battery-run easy-bike and rickshaws began hunger strike unto death yesterday protesting the decision to ban their vehicles on five roads of the city.

Under the banner of ‘Battery-run Rickshaws Labour- Owners Sangram Committee and Rickshaws Van Driver Labour Union, started the hunger strike on the Ashwini Kumar Hall premises at about 11am.

Before the strike they brought out a procession in the city. Different left organisations supported the programme.

Dr Manisha Chakrabarty, Barishal district convener of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), protesting the steps of BCC and BMP, said, suddenly imposing this decision will make the road communication costlier for the citizens and it will also make the poor drivers and owners those vehicles hard to earn their livelihoods and live under inhuman condition as they are depended on these vehicles. We will force the authorities to withdrawal their decision if needed, she added

Shahjahan Mia, president of battery run rickshaw and easy bike owners association, claimed members of  at least ten thousand families of the city depends on  battery run easy-bike and rickshaw. So imposing any restriction would suffer to maintain daily livelihood.

Meanwhile five roads of Barishal Metropolitan City will be made off-limits to battery run easy-bike and rickshaws from October 1 to make the road safe for commuters and improve the traffic movement situation. The roads are Zila School to Jailkhana Mor, Kakolir Mor to Land Settlement Mor, KB Hamayetuddin (Girjamahalla) road, Vatarkhal to DC office crossing, Nagor Bhavan (City Corporation) to Chawker Pol crossing.