Reza Mahmud :
The street vendors on Tuesday sat for business again before evening defying the ban of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The hawkers were seen sat in pavements at Gulistan, Motijheel, Paltan and Baitul Mukarram areas during office times in the midst of ongoing eviction drive launched on Sunday.
On spot visit, it was found that the street vendors took the pavements at noon to sale their goods. They set up their temporary wooden platforms to display their goods in Gulistan, Motijheel and adjacent areas from 1:00pm. Police remained present in these areas but it did not bothered the hawkers to set up their shops. Even, police refrained from taking action against such illegal occupation.
When contacted, the DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon told The New Nation that no one could allow to sit in pavements in office time. Our team is active in every areas. We must take action if anyone try to violate the decision.
Earlier in the morning, the hawkers brought out a procession in front of the National Press Club to protest the DSCC’s ongoing eviction drive to clear the footpath from illegal occupation. They also warned the DSCC Mayor of ‘dire consequences’ from the rally if they are evicted from footpath business. Hawkers also demanded a rehabilitation policy for them from the rally. “Eviction before rehabilitation is an inhuman act. It triggers anger among the hawkers,” said Abul Hossain, the convener of Hawkers Samannoy Parishad, a platform for street vendors.
Several hundred hawkers from different parts of the city joined the rally to press home their 10-point demands, including formation of a hawker rehabilitation policy before evicting them from the streets and pavements.
The hawker leaders said they are ready to provide all-out cooperation to the authorities to this end.
Meanwhile, the shop-owners of different markets in Gulistan and adjacent areas expressed doubt over the sustainability of the eviction programme saying the hawkers may take streets again with the help of influential people.
“Many influential persons are involved behind toll collection from the footpaths. This caused apprehension that how long the eviction drive continue,” said one of shop owners in Bangabandhu Avenue. He, however, welcomed the ongoing drive and said it was badly needed to run our business.
The passengers, pedestrians and vehicle staffs using those streets also expressed their happiness on the eviction drive.
Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Monday said the DSCC’s eviction drive to keep the footpaths in Gulistan, Motijheel and adjoining areas free from street vendors during office hours will continue.
On January 11, a decision was taken not to allow any hawker to sit those areas in office times for the smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The decision said the hawkers could sale their goods after the office time from evening.
