After taking office, the ruling party-backed mayors of the two city corporations strongly announced to free the capital’s footpaths and streets from illegal occupiers, a task that had never brought any result in the past.
And they have failed too to materialise what they said on May 28 after holding a meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, also a Presidium member of the Awami League.
The hawkers selling different fancy products, clothes, shoes and daily necessities at makeshift shops on the city’s footpaths say they will not quit as they pay money to the local ruling party men and the police regularly. So they return to the same spot and resume business after a drive is conducted.
Demanding to be rehabilitated first, they refute getting any notice from the city corporation authorities about leaving the footpaths voluntarily.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon and Annisul Huq of Dhaka North had announced they would launch drives against the illegal occupants in the Gulistan area on June 1 and in Farmgate on June 12 to ease the suffering of the pedestrians and ensure free traffic movement.
On June 1, the DSCC officials accompanied by an executive magistrate dismantled small shops and removed hawkers from areas near Baitul Mukarram mosque, Bangabandhu National Stadium, Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium, Kaptan Bazar, Awami League’s office on Bangabandhu Avenue and Gulistan intersection.
But after the end of the drive, the hawkers returned to their designated spots.
Executive Magistrate Mamunur Rashid that day told the Dhaka Tribune that they would continuously monitor the footpaths so that the hawkers could not resume businesses.
Apparently, the eviction drive yielded no result. The Dhaka Tribune correspondent yesterday found businesses running in full swing in those spots near Gulistan.
When contacted, the magistrate yesterday said he was not aware of the current situation and that he would talk to the DSCC officials about it today.
Motiar Rahman, who sells jerseys near Bangabandhu National Stadium, was confident that they would not be removed. “Many drives were conducted against the hawkers in the past. These are merely an eye wash.
“We are always informed by the city corporation officials prior to an operation. We just keep our shops shut during the drives.”
He alleged the DSCC officials maintain contact with the ruling party men, who collect money from the hawkers. “So they will not drive us away,” Motiar added.
When contacted, central leaders of Chhatra League, Jubo League and Sramik League refuted the allegation of patronising the hawkers in exchange for money.
Mayor Khokon could not be reached over phone for comments despite repeated attempts.
Annisul backtracks
As per the mayor’s announcement, the DNCC was supposed to start the eviction drive from Farmgate area on Friday.
But during a visit in the area yesterday, all the hawkers on the footpaths and central reservoirs were found operating businesses like before.
Saiful sells vegetables in front of Tejgaon College. He said they were not aware of any possible eviction drive. “Why will we leave? We pay the local leaders of Chhatra League and Jubo League every week to run our businesses.”
He observed that launching drives without rehabilitating the small businessmen is inhuman.
Chief Estate Officer of the DNCC Md Aminul Islam said the mayor had not yet instructed them to launch the drive.
“It is a complicated issue ... involves many stakeholders. We are trying to find a sustainable solution,” Annisul said in a text message in response to a query.
Meanwhile, Zonayed Saki, a DNCC mayoral candidate who rejected the April 28 election results, has taken a stance in favour of the hawkers.
At an event in front of the National Press Club on Friday, the Gonoshonghoti Andolon convener called upon the mayors and the government not to evict the hawkers without ensuring alternative places for them.
“Let the hawkers operate their businesses in line with the laws. Select specific places for them. Do not torture or intimidate them ... the people may react harshly,” he said.