Politicians and rights activists on Monday urged the auto-rickshaw workers to be united against all forms of repression on them in the name of daily deposit and extortion.
At a roundtable discussion, they also urged them to inform people and media of the repressions perpetrated on them.
The Dhaka District Auto-Rickshaw, Auto-Tempo and Mishuk Transports Workers Union organised the programme at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.
While presenting the keynote paper, the union general secretary Mohammad Golam Faruk alleged that auto-rickshaws were plying in Bangladesh since 1956 but the consecutive governments did nothing to change the fate of these workers.
‘At present we are in great danger as the owners are charging extra daily deposit and in some cases police and goons are extorting money from us,’ he added.
He said the government had fixed the daily deposit at Tk 600 for a day while the owners were collecting Tk 600 for half-day and Tk 1,200 for a full day.
There is no appointment system in this sector while the owners, taking the opportunity, terminate workers on their whims, Golam added.
Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna urged the auto-rickshaw workers to hold patience in the prevailing situation.
‘The government is the first to be blamed for all problems in the country right now,’ he said and added that all the workers should be united to realise their rights.
He also said without any movement the situation would not improve.
Samajtantrik Sramik Dal general secretary Rajikuzzaman Ratan said the workers and general people should be on one side as they were the sufferers.
‘Make the people understand who the main culprits behind this situation are,’ he added.
Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation secretary general Osman Ali alleged that along with the transport owners the highway police, Detective Branch, traffic and thana polices were extorting from the transport workers.
‘We have urged the government several times to take action against them but there is no positive sign in this regard,’ he added.
The programme was attended, along others, by the union chairman, Mujibur Rahman Master, garment leader Lovely Yesmin, Abul Hossain and Shafiqul Islam and journalist Mahmuduzzaman Qazi.