E-rickshaw drivers stage hour-long blockade at Dhaka Press Club

Electric rickshaw drivers blocked the road in front of the Press Club in central Dhaka on Thursday, disrupting traffic flow in the congested area for roughly an hour during the midday period. The blockade drew attention to grievances affecting the city's rapidly expanding e-rickshaw sector, which has grown substantially as an alternative to traditional petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

The exact nature of the drivers' demands was not immediately specified, though tensions have periodically flared within Dhaka's transport community over operational challenges, fare disputes, and regulatory concerns. E-rickshaws have become an increasingly common sight on city streets, offering an environmentally friendlier transport option while generating employment for thousands of drivers.

Authorities eventually cleared the obstruction and normal traffic resumed after the drivers dispersed from the area. The incident marks the latest in a series of transport-related demonstrations that have periodically affected daily life in Bangladesh's capital city, where competing interests within the informal transport sector frequently lead to public actions.

The e-rickshaw industry continues to evolve with minimal formal regulation, creating friction points between different stakeholder groups including drivers, vehicle owners, local authorities, and traditional transport operators.