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CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers have blocked multiple locations along Mirpur Road in protest against the government’s decision to enforce the use of meters for fare calculation. The protests took place around 10 AM on February 13, 2025, in front of Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Ganobhaban, and College Gate.
The drivers are demanding the government revoke the recent directive from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), which requires CNG auto-rickshaws to charge fares based on the meter. Tania Sultana, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Tejgaon Traffic Division, confirmed that the blockade occurred in front of Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
As a result, traffic police are rerouting vehicles from Dhanmondi towards Lake Road to avoid the blocked areas.
This protest follows a government move to enforce meter usage more strictly, including penalties for drivers who charge more than the meter fare. Under the new regulations, CNG drivers who overcharge can face fines of up to Tk 50,000 or imprisonment for up to six months. A letter from BRTA’s Director of Engineering, Shitangshu Shekhor Biswas, was sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner on February 11, 2025, outlining these penalties.
An anonymous BRTA official explained that while penalties already exist in the law, they have not been strictly enforced in the past, leading to numerous complaints of overcharging. As a result, the BRTA has urged the police to ensure the rules are applied more rigorously.
