The government has decided to clear beggars from some locations in the capital, Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid told parliament on Thursday.
The places to be declared beggar-free are Shahjalal International Airport area, Bailey Road, the diplomatic zone and places surrounding the embassies, and the Sonargaon, Ruposhi Bangla and Radisson hotels.
Replying to a question from Awami League MP Shahriar Alam during the question-answer hour for the ministers, Enamul told the parliament that the public administration ministry on July 21 revived the magistracy power for the administration cadre officials working in the social welfare ministry and the social welfare department, for taking action against the beggars who were active in these areas.
The minister said the government on September 30, 2011 carried out a survey of 10,000 beggars in 10 zones of Dhaka city. Based on the survey, the social welfare department chalked out a project to rehabilitate the beggars by creating alternative livelihoods.
Of the 10,000 beggars, 37 people in Mymensingh and 29 in Jamalpur have been given rickshaws for rehabilitation.
Enamul said the government’s anti-beggar campaign had brought some positive impact on begging. He said successful implementation of the beggars rehabilitation move would help remove begging from the country in the future.
