Eviction drive faces hawkers' resistance

Hawkers in the capital's Gulistan and Motijheel area yesterday protested an eviction drive of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) conducted to free the roads and footpaths for safe walking.

The hawkers vandalised a number of vehicles of the city corporation and engaged in a scuffle with DSCC officials during the drive, conducted from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, led by three DSCC magistrates in association with Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Earlier on Wednesday, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon announced that the hawkers will not be allowed to sit with their goods in Gulistan and adjacent areas during working hours from yesterday.

But they will be allowed to sit at some selected places from 6:30pm onwards during the working days, and on the holidays they will be allowed to do business all day, he said at a meeting with the hawker leaders.

Mamun Sardar, a DSCC executive magistrate, said they conducted the drive according to the mayor's order to clear footpaths at Motijheel, Dilkusha, Shapla Chattar, Bangladesh Bank Colony area, Dainik Bangla crossing and near Baitul Mukarram.

“The drive was peaceful but some people suddenly started a scuffle at Dainik Bangla crossing. Police eventually drove them out,” he said.

He said some hawkers threw brickbats at the DSCC vehicles and broke the glasses of a loader. Police did not arrest anyone regarding the incident.

At a press conference after the drive, the mayor said the drive will continue until the footpaths and roads are cleared to facilitate pedestrians.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hawkers Union yesterday protested the “police torture on the hawkers and damaging their goods” during the drive, said a press release.