Bangladesh Hawkers Federation and Bangladesh Hawkers League demonstrated a procession on Thursday morning. The procession commenced from Bangabandhu Avenue in Gulistan and proceeded to a short rally to the National Press Club in the afternoon.
The two hawker associations placed six demands to the authorities:
- Extortionists to be arrested immediately
- No further eviction drives against footpath hawkers without relocating them first
- City corporation authority should register authorised hawkers
- Steps should be taken to ensure the safety of the registered hawkers
- Authorities may introduce a provision to collect rent from registered hawkers
- Immediate steps to prevent harassment of floating hawkers
The hawkers demanded the arrests of people who extort from hawkers and call themselves “linemen” and declare themselves to be in charge of footpaths and roads.
MA Kashem, president of both Hawkers Federation and Hawkers League led the 100-strong procession to emphasise their six-point demand.
Hawkers League General Secretary Jahangir Jamadar, Vice-President Sheikh Mofajjal Hossain, Joint-Secretary Syedur Rahman, Organising Secretary Azharul Islam and other senior hawker leaders were in attendance.
Also read- Gulistan hawkers to shift to Mahanagar Natyamancha
Kashem said: “The extortionists who call themselves linemen attacked the city corporation officials with their associates on October 27, which cannot be condoned.
“However, evicting us before setting up alternative facilities for our relocation is completely unacceptable,” he added.
He welcomed the Dhaka South City Corporation's (DSCC) recent initiative to relocate the 2,502 listed hawkers in Gulistan and holiday markets.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed both mayors of Dhaka South and North city corporations to list hawkers and ensure we are properly relocated. I extend my congratulations to Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon for his initiative to improve the livelihood of hawkers,” the hawker leader further added.
On 29 October, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon announced a temporary shift for the hawkers in Gulistan to the nearby Mahanagar Natyamancha.
The plan was swiftly announced in the wake of a clash between the hawkers and police and city corporation officials when the eviction drive commenced in October.
The mayor made the announcement after a closed door meeting with all the ward councillors in the city corporation.
Earlier on October 27, hundreds of hawkers clashed with the police after a team of DSCC officials led by an executive magistrate tried to carry out an eviction drive against illegal structures in Gulistan.