Terming the ban prescribed by the World Bank and IMF a wrong decision of the government, they said motorised vehicles, including buses, private cars and CNG-run three-wheelers, have now replaced the rickshaws, rendering about two lakh rickshaw-pullers jobless.

The ban on rickshaws has affected women, children and elderly people most as they face much trouble while travelling to different places, they added.

The Neeti Gobeshona Kendra organised the discussion on 'Eviction of rickshaws from the thoroughfares of Dhaka: Impact on the lives and livelihood of rickshaws-pullers and ways to resolve the problem' at the Cirdap auditorium in the city.

The speakers urged the government to reverse the decision and introduce separate lanes for rickshaws in all the main streets for the greater interest of city-dwellers and the environment.

Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley, chairman of the Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh, said the transportation cost and traffic jam can be reduced greatly by controlling motorised vehicles and providing training for the rickshaw-pullers.

Following the restriction on movement of rickshaws, travel cost has increased around 10 to 15 per cent, it takes more time to reach the destinations and the income of 50 per cent rickshaw-pullers has decreased, said Sheikh Towfiq Mohazzemul Huq, senior policy analyst of Neeti Gobeshona Kendra, in his keynote paper.

Dr Shamsul Bari, chairman of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), said the World Bank has provided 7.5 crore dollars for the rehabilitation of affected rickshaw-pullers. But there should be a social monitoring system to observe its proper use, he added.

Renowned economist Prof Anisur Rahman said the government should not launch any new system only for the benefit of some upper-class people. The decision to evict rickshaws from the roads is not a good idea for development, he added.

Women's rights activist Hamida Hossain, Prof Khandakar Sakhawat Ali, Dr Korban Ali, Prof Shakhawat Ansari and Prof SM Atiqur Rahman also spoke at the meeting moderated by Shihab Uddin Ahmed, chairman of Neeti Gobeshona Kendra.