5 members of a same family including 3-year-old child were burnt when a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw caught fire due to gas cylinder leakage. Police said, "The incident took place in Bakalia area of Chattogram when the family members were visiting their relative's house on the occasion of Eid on Monday, April 24 in the afternoon. The injured are Bilkis Begum (28), Josna Begum (28), Sathi Akhter (17), Jannat (8) and Kainat (3). They have been admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) burn unit. Bakalia Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Rahim said, "These 5 people were going to their relative's house in Bahaddarhat area by riding a CNG auto-rickshaw from Karnaphuli area. When the CNG autorickshaw reached the Bahaddarhat area, it suddenly caught fire at around 12:30 noon and they were burnt." At one point, the CNG gas cylinder exploded. And then, the locals put out the fire and took the injured to the hospital, he said.

Seven passengers were killed in a collision between a bus and CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Tarakanda area on Mymensingh-Netrokona regional highway. The accident occurred at around 1 pm on Sunday. The deceased were identified as- Faruk Ahmed (42), Nizam Uddin (45), Julekha Khatun (30), Rakibul (29), Masuma Khatun (25), Shohag (30) and a new born baby. Locals said, seven people died on the spot when a bus of Shahjalal Paribahan pushed the auto-rickshaw at Gachhtala area on Mymensingh-Netrokona regional highway. According to the eyewitnesses, an auto-rickshaw from Shambhuganj bridge was heading towards Gouripur. On the way the auto-rickshaw tried to overtake a mahindra. At that time a Dhaka bound bus hit the auto-rickshaw. Seven passengers of the auto-rickshaw including a new born baby died on the spot. In this regard Tarakanda police station Officer in Charge Abul Khayer said, the passengers died on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Of the deceased three were male, three female and one new born baby. AH

CNG auto-rickshaw will run through apps after private car and motorcycle. The app based auto-rickshaw service ‘Hello’ was experimentally inaugurated in the capital. It will go for one month and later the ‘Hello’ ride sharing service will be formally launched from March 1 utilizing the experience of that period. The spokesperson of Top II Rokeya Prachi said this at a press conference held at the National Press Club conference lounge on Tuesday. She said, ‘Hello’ app is the country’s first authorized ride sharing app. The app was made open in the Play Store. Android and IOS mobile phone users can download the ‘Hello’ app from Google Play Store and Apple Store. Passengers and drivers can register them using the app. Rokeya Prachi said, CNG auto-rickshaw driver would appear after submission of request in the apps. This app will run based on rules and regulations of the government. After getting the approval of ‘Ride Sharing Service Policy 2017’ on Monday the service began to run from Tuesday. Rokeya Prachi said that they have given training of good behavior to 5 hundred CNG auto-rickshaw drivers. City dwellers can use CNG auto-rickshaw according to the rate fixed by the government. The rate is fixed 40 taka for first two kilometers and 12 taka for each kilometer after that. The per minute waiting charge is fixed taka 2. 15 percent money should be given to the concerned company for using the app. ‘Hello’ app will be available in the Google Apps Store from Tuesday. Secretary General of Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said to Rtv online on the matter that CNG auto-rickshaw fare has gone beyond reach of general passengers. If CNG auto-rickshaw drivers follow the rules than it will gain popularity again. But surveillance of administration should be maintained so that people may not be harassed by using the app. AH