The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dhaka has now been the city of rickshaws. No body knows how many rickshaws are there in the capital. Every year, during the two Eids, more rickshaw pullers enter the city and do not go out because they say: We earn more here than we do in the villages and district towns. We have neither croplands nor dwelling houses to plough and to sleep. Rather, let us stay here that we can survive somehow.

Surely nobody will raise objection to the rickshaw pullers' right to live. But the trouble lies with their ignorance of traffic rules. They are often found to occupy entire roads, the streets and avenues and thereby obstruct the normal movement of the speedy transports like buses, trucks, private cars etc. and take away two to three hours working period of people of other professions which may have a bad impact on the national economy.

But it cannot be allowed to go for in indefinite period. Dhaka city Corporation and Dhaka Metropolitan Police jointly may find out a solution by reserving a portion of roads, the streets and the avenues, as done on the Mirpur Road between New Market and Science Laboratory Police Box, for rickshaws and to monitor with strict observance. We must note it carefully there will be influx of more rickshaws in the coming days and so steps are to be taken before it is late.

Abdur Rashid

Sabujbagh, Dhaka.