Hawkers and businessmen in the city were locked in a battle yesterday centering an eviction drive to keep the footpath hawker-free.
The hawkers brought out a procession protesting the eviction programme taken by the authorities of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) recently.
Eye-witnesses said police had dispersed the procession while hundreds of hawkers brought out demonstration in the city demanding rehabilitation.
On the other hand, businessmen were locked in a clash with the hawkers and called upon the locals to make the city clean and beautiful.
Zidan Al Musa, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet metropolitan police, said: “Everyone wants to build a clean city. But, the two groups are in conflicting positions. We are trying to solve the matter through mutual understanding.” In reply to a question, he said: “The police did not stop hawkers from holding processions. We advised them to submit a memorandum to the police commissioner.”
The businessmen on behalf of Sylhet Mohanagar Hawker Sangram Parishad submitted a memorandum to the police commissioner. It mentioned that there are about 20,000 hawkers in the city. But they were evicted to enhance the beauty of the city after SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury took the office.
On the other hand, the hawkers requested the authorities to give them the opportunity to sell items from 12pm-12am from Saturday to Thursday and from 4pm-12am during the other four days before rehabilitation.
They also requested the police commissioner to allow them to sit in Jalalabad Park, owned by the City Corporation.
On Saturday night, the hawkers at a meeting said they were always ready to make the footpath free.