Staff Reporter :
Several hundred hawkers demonstrated against a drive by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Gulistan’s Zero Point and the Baitul Mukarram areas on Tuesday.
Around 1.00pm, a mobile court of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) launched an evacuation operation in Gulistan area on Tuesday. The eviction drive was carried out under the leadership of DSCC Estate Officer Mohammad Moniruzzaman. One was fined after the campaign started.
At the time, the hawkers started protesting by blocking the road. After that, the raid team of the city corporation left the venue. And huge number of policemen were deployed in the areas.
Protesters said that they would not accept eviction without rehabilitation somewhere. This operation must be stopped.
Jolly Talukder, Advisor of Bangladesh Hawkers Union, said, we want to tell the Prime Minister that the promise you made about the hawkers, I hope you will keep that promise. If you do not keep then we will not be able to keep your word. If you want to remove us from the place by force, then we will be undone.
President of Bangladesh Hawkers Union Abdul Hasim Kabir said, we heard that the mayor is holding a market for hawkers. He said there will be a place for hawkers. We mean, yours will be cash and ours will be the rest. We will not accept it.
He said, it will take 4 to 5 years to build the market. Where will our hawkers go this long time? Rather arrange shelters for hawkers now, then we will leave the place. Now if you want to make a five-story market or a hundred-story building that is up to you. But we want to continue our business, he said.
Salauddin Mia, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Palton Thana said the move has been taken to facilitate traffic movement. We help DSCC to continue its drive and evict hawkers from the areas.
Mentionable that the drive was part of DSCC’s move to create pedestrian-friendly footpaths and roads for city- dwellers.
