Staff Reporter :
At least 20 people, including Paltan Police Station OC, were injured in a clash between the hawkers and the employees of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Gulistan area on Thursday.
The demonstrated hawkers vandalized at least 15 vehicles during the clash in the area, witnesses said.
The clash erupted when city corporation men went to Sundarban Market for an eviction drive into the market in the afternoon, they said.
Later, the hawkers blocked the road in front of the city corporation building, according to them.
Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam said, “A clash began in the market when DSCC officials started eviction drive led by Mamunur Rashid, Executive Magistrate of the City Corporation around 11:30am. The magistrate also fined Tk 10,000 each of the traders and picked up the General Secretary of the market on the charge of creating barrier to their eviction drive. At one stage, the traders obstructed the drive and besieged the DSCC Building.” “Following the besieging of the building, the DSCC staff and hawkers backed by DSCC Mayor engaged into a long time clash. They also hurled brick-chips and stones’ pieces,” the police official said.
Additional police were deployed in the area to avert further untoward situation, the OC said.
The DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon visited the area and tried to convince demonstrators in the afternoon. Police also fired bullets and tear shells to disperse the demonstrated hawkers after getting green signal from the Mayor.
The hawkers in protest called for hartal in Gulistan area on November 2. But the Sramik League a brought out stick-procession against the illegal hartal.
Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon warned that all the illegal establishments and shops would be evicted as per the High Court order.
He instructed the law enforcers to evict the unlawful establishments to free the area.
He also requested the city dwellers to help the authorities concerned and law enforcers implement the HC order.
Hawker Jahangir claimed that the authorities concerned started eviction drive without any notice or announcement unlike the previous evictions in the city’s other places.
Another team of the DSCC led by its Chief Estate Officer Md Jahidul Hossain conducted a drive in the area around 3:30pm, said DSCC Chief Executive Officer Khan Mohammad Bilal.
They also evicted at least 50 without trouble, he said.
