Staff Reporter :
The hawkers of Gulistan will keep from the streets for trading during office hours as per decision of a joint meeting held among Dhaka South City Corporation, hawker leaders, local representatives and law enforcers on Wednesday.
The meeting took place at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium.
“It is being done to facilitate smooth movement of transports and pedistrians,” said Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayed Khokon after the meeting.
The decision will come into effect from Sunday next. A City Corporation magistrate and police will take action against the violators, he said.
As per the decision, hawkers will start business from 6:30pm on working days. On holidays, they will be allowed to start business from early morning.
“We appreciate the concept of Holiday Markets where the hawkers will be allowed to run their business without hassle,” said M A Kashem, President of Bangladesh Hawkers’ Federation. “A list of 2,500 hawkers has been prepared and they will get identity cards. They will also get assistance if they want to change their profession. The government will arrange suitable jobs for them,” Mayor Khokon said. The Mayor also assured that legal steps will be taken against linemen, who extort hawkers. Police have been requested to take necessary steps in this regard, Khokon added. Hawker leaders lauded the government’s initiative to arrange rehabilitation for them.
Footpaths and streets of Gulistan, Motijheel, Paltan, Zero Point and Baitul Mokarram Area will come under this programme. Magistrate will help us in this regard. DMP will also extend their comprehensive support for this initiative, said the Mayor. Saeed Khokon said in the meeting that High Court ordered to clear the footpaths and the streets. So hawkers should keep from these places.
Bangladesh National Hawkers Federation President Arif Chowdhury said that number of hawkers is increasing day by day as there is no specific rule.
He said, “A committee should be formed with coordination of the City Corporation and the traffic police. Hawkers will sit in the footpaths receiving a token from the committee and they will leave the place after the fixed time.”
M A Kashem, President of Bangladesh Hawkers’ Federation alleged the administration is extorting by linemen from the hawkers. Discipline cannot be restored in the footpaths for linemen. The Mayor said, “We have the list of the linemen. We will take legal action against them. Dhaka Metropolitan Police will execute this.”
Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) of DMP Md Mofizuddin Ahmed said, linemen will be removed automatically. They are taking action against the linemen almost everyday, said Mofizuddin. Chief Executive Offcer of the Dhaka South City Khan Mohammad Bilal, Joint Secretary of Home Ministry Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan were also present in the meeting.
