The city dwellers witnessed an unprecedented crisis of rickshaw and suffered a lot for want of rickshaws yesterday.

Police sources said they have launched the drive against the rickshaws that do not have valid licences and carry lamps.

Police seized hundreds of rickshaws from different city points in the last several days, rickshaw-pullers said.

Ashraf Mia, 35, a rickshawpuller at city's Sagarpara, was seen waiting on the office premises of Ward-21 Commissioner to get back his rickshaw.

Police on Thursday seized his rented rickshaw, as it had no valid licence from Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), Ashraf said.

Another rickshawpuller Jamshed of Shaheb Bazar area alleged that the on-duty traffic police have seized the seat of his rickshaw. He has failed to recover his rickshaw seat, the only earning source of his seven-member family.

Meanwhile, RCC authorities said around 10,000 rickshaws were registered with the corporation while more than 25,000 rickshaws have been plying illegally.

The rickshawpullers and owners demanded immediate end to the drive against small-earning rickshaws pullers.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police sources said their drive would continue until they receive further notice from the higher authority in this regard.