BSS, Chittagong :
Hawkers in the city’s New Market and Riazuddin Bazar areas have again occupied the footpaths ahead of Ed-ul-Fitr causing extreme sufferings to the pedestrians.
People alleged that the law enforcing agencies do not pay heed to the tailbacks caused by the hawkers for unknown reasons. Mohammad Ali, a pedestrian alleged that hawkers and shop owners have occupied two kilometres long footpaths on both sides of the Station Road, New Market intersection, Jubilee road, City College and Alkaran areas as well as the adjoining roads. Another pedestrian Azizur Rahman told BSS that people mostly from middle income group go to these markets for shopping and fall victim to different types of fraudulent, criminal activities and snatching.
Business activities in nearly 115 big and small markets at Reazuddin Bazar, Tamakumandi Lane, station road are affected directly as hundreds of hawkers setting up makeshift shops and stretching tarpaulins over footpaths have narrowed the walkways in front of these markets, alleged Mohammad Sohel, a shop owner at Reazuddin Bazar.
The wholesale and retail business hub of Reazuddin Bazar were the first choice of middle income families but the customers now prefer other shopping spots like Terribazar to avoid unpleasant hassles and congestion at Reazuddin Bazar, Sohel added.
Most of the traders of this market alleged that recently their business has fallen by 35 per cent compared to the previous years due to presence of hawkers on the footpaths.
Wholesale traders alleged that they faced huge losses in the last six months due to poor turn up of customers.
Akter Hossain, a wholesaler at Riazuddin Bazar, alleged that law- enforcing agencies launched drives from time to time to clear the footpath but all those went in vain due to patronisation of hawkers by political parties.
Leaders of different hawkers unions who control these makeshift shops have good relations with the political leaders, he added.
The customers mostly female and those who come from villages easily fall victim to a section of frauds who sell fake goods including watches at high prices. Besides, female customers often face physical harassment by the hawkers. Talking to BSS, A K M Mohiuddin Selim, officer-in-charge of Kotowali thana, said they evicted the hawkers many times but they reoccupied the pavements. “Now we are taking strict measures to clear the footpaths very soon,” he added.
