Reza Mahmud :
Chaos and gridlock have virtually returned to the city streets within one month from eviction. The hawkers of Gulistan, Motijheel and adjacent areas have occupied streets again, violating the Mayor’s directives.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) continued eviction drives in the Gulistan, Motijheel and its adjacent areas from January 15 with decision not to allow them to return during office hours. But the hawkers after a few days started occupying the streets to bring back old days.
Talking to The New Nation on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer Khan Mohammad Bilal of DSCC said that shortage of manpower was making most of their efforts futile.
“There are shortages of manpower in the City Corporation office. For this it becomes hard to drive against unfit vehicles and unlicensed drivers,” Khan Mohammad Bilal said.
Hawkers had been suggested to sell their goods in Holiday markets on the weekly and the government holidays. The City Corporation selected nine places, including the Baitul Mukarram and the Dilkusha area, as holiday markets.
But the street vendors have been capturing the streets immediately after the drive ignoring the directions. They started to sit in pavements and streets at Gulistan, Baitul Mukarram, Motijheel, Paltan and adjoining places. It makes the people disappointed again. They were happy after the eviction drives from January 15.
“We became happy when we found the footpaths free after the eviction drive. The streets also were free from tailbacks as the vehicles got sufficient spaces after eviction from the streets. But now we find that the old days have returned. The hawkers sit now from the noon blocking the streets and pavements in the Gulistan and its adjacent areas,” said Rafiqul Hasan, a private job holder.
“It is our source of income to feed and clothes our families. The city Corporation evicted us without arranging alternative way of livelihood. They told us to sit at evening. But only evening time sale is not sufficient for our livelihood. They have asked us to sit in holiday markets. But it is a reality that those places failed to attract buyers,” said Shahid Hossain, a hawker in Gulistan area.
When contacted, DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon told The New Nation, “The idea of holiday markets must live on. The hawkers should not take to the streets and the footpaths again during office time. Our officials will take action against those of the hawkers who will try to violate the directives.”
Chaos and gridlock have virtually returned to the city streets within one month from eviction. The hawkers of Gulistan, Motijheel and adjacent areas have occupied streets again, violating the Mayor’s directives.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) continued eviction drives in the Gulistan, Motijheel and its adjacent areas from January 15 with decision not to allow them to return during office hours. But the hawkers after a few days started occupying the streets to bring back old days.
Talking to The New Nation on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer Khan Mohammad Bilal of DSCC said that shortage of manpower was making most of their efforts futile.
“There are shortages of manpower in the City Corporation office. For this it becomes hard to drive against unfit vehicles and unlicensed drivers,” Khan Mohammad Bilal said.
Hawkers had been suggested to sell their goods in Holiday markets on the weekly and the government holidays. The City Corporation selected nine places, including the Baitul Mukarram and the Dilkusha area, as holiday markets.
But the street vendors have been capturing the streets immediately after the drive ignoring the directions. They started to sit in pavements and streets at Gulistan, Baitul Mukarram, Motijheel, Paltan and adjoining places. It makes the people disappointed again. They were happy after the eviction drives from January 15.
“We became happy when we found the footpaths free after the eviction drive. The streets also were free from tailbacks as the vehicles got sufficient spaces after eviction from the streets. But now we find that the old days have returned. The hawkers sit now from the noon blocking the streets and pavements in the Gulistan and its adjacent areas,” said Rafiqul Hasan, a private job holder.
“It is our source of income to feed and clothes our families. The city Corporation evicted us without arranging alternative way of livelihood. They told us to sit at evening. But only evening time sale is not sufficient for our livelihood. They have asked us to sit in holiday markets. But it is a reality that those places failed to attract buyers,” said Shahid Hossain, a hawker in Gulistan area.
When contacted, DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon told The New Nation, “The idea of holiday markets must live on. The hawkers should not take to the streets and the footpaths again during office time. Our officials will take action against those of the hawkers who will try to violate the directives.”
