17 October 2004	Sunday	02 Ramazan 1425

DHAKA, Oct 16: Rickshaw pullers observed a complete strike on Saturday in Dhaka on the call of the Rickshaw-Van Owners Employees Action Council.

The council had given a strike call to press its six-point demands, including an immediate stop to the rickshaw eviction drive, which started on Wednesday.

Some of the other demands included immediate announcement of fresh dates for rickshaw licence awarding, rehabilitation before the drive, and making bylanes for rickshaws on roads where they have been banned.

The council at a meeting of its executive members on Saturday set a new deadline, Oct 19, for the demands to be met. "We have resolved at the meeting to go for a greater movement, if the government fails to meet our demands," said Sukkur Ahmed, convener of the council.

The organization also called for the release of 20 rickshaw pullers arrested by the police during picketing on Saturday.

Over 330 rickshaws were seized on the first two days of a joint drive launched by the police and the Dhaka City Corporation.