Presenting a study report on livelihood, rights and social safety of rickshaw-van puller in Dhaka city and accepting the study report and prepared claims and taking suggestions and opinion and way forward for future were the main objectives of the conference.

BILS Vice Chairman Md. Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan chaired the conference and BILS Joint Secretary General and Executive Director Md. Zafrul Hasan moderated the programme while Professor of Jagannath University Dr. Rezaul Karim presented the keynote paper. Senior Trade Union Trainer Khandoker Abdus Salam presented the claims. BILS Secretary and Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Khan Nasim, Samajtantrik Sramik Front Secretary General Razekuzzaman Ratan, Motor Sramik League President Insur Ali, Bangladesh Rickshaw Malik Federation Senior Vice-President Md. Harunur Rashid Khan and Rajdhani Rickshaw Malik Samiti General Secretary A K M Gias Uddin participated in the panel discussion.

Speakers in the conference demanded for providing license to rickshaw puller, standard living place sanitation system, arranging pure drinking water for workers and application to the City Corporation for number plate.

Emphasizing on license of rickshaw puller A K M Gias Uddin said, City Corporation shows negligence in case of providing license to the rickshaw puller whereas their expenditure is more than their income. Basically the workers, working in field are started to work as rickshaw puller. In this sector workers are being tortured by administration to general people in various ways, but they can not make complain to police against it as they do not have any organisation. Even rickshaw pullers have to take help from pedestrians to bury their dead body. How many rickshaws will run in Dhaka city that should be determined from City Corporation. He urged to control the rickshaw business and the allover development of rickshaw pullers considering the issue of their humanity.

Nurul Islam Khan said, organising rickshaw puller in Dhaka city has been trying for a long time. In this case, the owners and workers must be united. He urged to publish a short claim immediately by specifying the main points from the claim published by BILS.

Md. Harun Or Rashid said, there are no owners of battery powered rickshaw. These pullers do not get any place to stay and any garage to keep their rickshaw. Accidents are also high in these rickshaws. The owners are more victim than the pullers as these rickshaws don not have any license. He emphasized on ensuring better accommodation for rickshaw pullers.

Razekuzzaman Ratan said, it would be better if there is a chapter containing with Trade Union organisations’ contribution to rickshaw pullers. Trade Union can play a vital role in case of implementing a policy to determine the rickshaw fare. Trade Union can contribute to provide training on behavioral rules of rickshaw pullers, taking necessary measures to protect their health and managing the case. Besides, he urged to bring the rickshaw pullers under health camp by providing health card among them.

Besides, BILS and SKOP affiliated national Federations Trade Union leaders, human rights organisations leaders were present in the conference.