Violent clashes broke out on Wednesday afternoon between police and battery-powered rickshaw drivers in the Bahir Signal area under Chattogram’s Chandgaon Police Station. The confrontation, which began during a traffic enforcement operation, continued intermittently into the evening.
Eyewitnesses reported that tensions escalated when Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Traffic Department launched an operation against battery-operated rickshaws, which are banned on the city’s main roads. As authorities moved to seize the vehicles, rickshaw drivers allegedly resisted and attacked the police.
Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Aftab Uddin confirmed the incident, stating, “Battery-run rickshaws are prohibited on major roads due to frequent accidents. However, many drivers continue to violate the rule. During the enforcement drive, they mobilized and attacked the police. We had to disperse them to restore order.”
OC Aftab also noted that police operations against these unauthorized vehicles are ongoing across the city.
According to traffic police records, a total of **2,896 battery-powered rickshaws** have already been seized and impounded in Chattogram during traffic enforcement drives throughout April.
The situation remains tense, with authorities maintaining a heightened presence in the area to prevent further unrest.
