DSCC firm on freeing Gulistan streets: Khokon

Amidst protests by hawkers over an eviction drive, Mayor Sayeed Khokon yesterday said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) would stick to its decision to keep Gulistan's streets free from street vendors during office hours.

The drive will continue to ensure free streets for the public, he said after a meeting with an 11-member delegation of Bangladesh Hawkers' Federation at Nagar Bhaban.

The delegation, led by Abdul Hashem Kabir, presented a memorandum with a 10-point demand including a stop to eviction without prior rehabilitation of hawkers.

They also asked that the government recognises hawkers, stops extortion and ends prosecuting hawkers. Earlier, several hundred hawkers gathered to protest in front of Bangabazar.

“There is no question of giving the hawkers any chance...There are about 1.2 crore people residing in this city. Of them, 60 percent people walk to their destinations and there should be no obstruction in their way,” said Khokon at the meeting. The eviction will not be lenient towards any political office occupying footpaths or streets, he added. The mayor, however, said measures will be taken to establish a holiday market for hawkers.

Khokon said they would take up initiatives and recommend sending the hawkers abroad for jobs in government projects. He threatened to withdraw the rehabilitation efforts if the hawkers conspired against the eviction.

Responding to a question, the mayor said one of the main causes of traffic congestion was hawkers taking up footpaths. “We will take other steps to bring vehicles under discipline after the move against hawkers,” he said.

During the second day of the drive, the DSCC took down a Jubo League office in Gulistan amid protests from a few activists.

The mayor on Wednesday had announced that the hawkers would not be allowed to sit with their goods in Gulistan and adjacent areas during working hours from January 15. But they will be allowed to sit at selected places from 6:30pm onwards and all day on the weekends, he said at a meeting with leaders of hawkers' associations.