A good initiative on paper

The Dhaka South City Corporation's (DSCC) decision to remove hawkers from the roads and footpaths of Gulistan and its adjacent areas during working hours, for the safe passage of pedestrians, is welcome. If done correctly, we believe that the initiative would benefit everyone. The hawkers would, of course, need to be rehabilitated and it seems that the DSCC has also recognised that. And in line with that, the DSCC has decided to allow hawkers to run their businesses at selected spots on workdays from 6:30pm onwards and at all times on Fridays. Such arrangements should be made regarding all our footpaths.

The DSCC, with the help of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), has made a list of 2,500 hawkers and will hand out identity cards to them for the purpose of rehabilitation which is heartening. According to the DSCC Mayor, legal steps will also be taken against linemen who extort the hawkers and cause further problems to arise.

And this is where the DSCC and the DMP will face their biggest challenge. Because as encouraging as the initiative may seem, what is most important is for it to be followed through. The DSCC, with the help of the DMP, must ensure that the initiative does not fall flat and that neither hawkers nor linemen or other extortionists are allowed to have it their way in return for handing out bribes to those involved with it.

The strategy that has been presented by the DSCC does seem encouraging for the time being. However, what we want to see is for it to be implemented sincerely and in a way that is most beneficial to all.