Bringing Dhaka’s street food vendors under a formal registration system -- through the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority initiative starting on November 1 -- is a reasonable step towards improving food safety and recognizing a sector that has long operated informally.
While the authorities prepare to introduce mandatory registration, however, they must also ensure that the process offers vendors genuine protection rather than another reason for them to fear harassment.
The initiative has the potential to make food safety oversight more effective for both traders and consumers by identifying vendors, providing hygiene training, and establishing clear standards. Free initial registration is also a welcome decision, particularly for people whose livelihoods depend on small daily earnings.
However, registration alone cannot address the difficulties street vendors face: Many continue to work under the threat of extortion and arbitrary eviction, often without access to designated spaces where they can operate without obstructing pedestrians.
A certificate will not amount to much if vendors remain vulnerable to illegal demands or are removed from their workplaces without clear rules or due process.
The authorities must therefore treat registration as part of a broader policy for managing street commerce. Local administrations need to establish designated vending areas, communicate regulations clearly, and ensure that enforcement is consistent and transparent. Vendors should also be made aware of necessary documentation, expected standards, and clear, formal ways to report harassment.
At the same time, food safety cannot be treated as a mere formality. Vendors should receive practical guidance and reasonable opportunities to meet hygiene requirements, while those who repeatedly disregard essential standards are held accountable.
Dhaka needs cleaner, safer, and better-organized streets, but this cannot come at the cost of livelihoods without offering workable alternatives.
At the end of the day, whether this formal registration system is used to support compliance, protect small traders, and regulate public spaces fairly or simply add another layer of bureaucracy remains to be seen.