Hawkers threaten to cripple Dhaka if evicted

The hawker leaders came up with the threat at a sit-in protest organised by Hawkers Samonyay Parishad in front of National Press Club on Sunday in the city. The threat comes within three weeks of an earlier threat made on February 15 to cordon off DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon. However, Sayeed Khokon has called the hawkers’ movement a conspiracy by extortionists. Addressing Mayor Khokon, the Hawkers Union Adviser Murshiqul Islam Shimul said: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed against an eviction of hawkers at the Jatiyo Sangsad. She also said no eviction without rehabilitation. So you [Khokon] are not more powerful than prime minister and the parliament. “We ask you not to make a rash move based on a whim; do not ignore the Prime Minister’s words. If you still make an attempt at eviction, we will be forced to cripple Dhaka.” Hawkers Samonyay Parishad Convener Abul Kalam urged the mayor to fulfil their demands or they would take a tougher stance. He said their final decision will be declared at the hawkers’ mass rally on March 29. Meanwhile, the hawkers’ protest caused a traffic gridlock between Purana Paltan and Shahbagh in the city. Cleaning up the footpaths has also been difficult as street hawkers happen to be occupying most of them. Earlier in October, attempts to evict hawkers in Gulistan led to a clash between the hawkers and DNCC officials and the police.