Hawkers demand policy outlining rehabilitation

Hawkers evicted from the footpaths of Gulistan, Paltan and Motijheel under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have demanded a policy outlining their rehabilitation to run their business.
A coalition of 16 hawkers’ unions under "Hawker Samonnoy Parishad" yesterday placed the demand during a protest rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Abul Hossain, coordinator of Hawker Samonnoy Parishad, said DNCC mayor Sayeed Khokon had taken ‘arbitrary steps’ on the eviction which has threatened their livelihoods.
The DSCC authorities have evicted street vendors from Gulistan, Baitul Mokarram, Motijheel and Paltan areas. Executive magistrate of DSCC, Khan Mohammad Nazmus Shoeb, conducted the eviction drive for the third day in and around Gulistan yesterday.
Issuing a stern warning to the DSCC mayor, Abul Hossain said: “Your father was also the mayor of the city and he had never evicted hawkers. We hope you won’t take such a decision.”  
He also warned the mayor of "dire consequences" if he did not change the decision.
Hawkers’ union leader Hazrat Ali alleged that the DSCC had conducted the eviction drive against the promise committed to hawkers during Monday’s meeting. “The hawkers are in trouble now. If the hawkers are not well, the mayor, too, will not be well,” he warned the mayor. 
“Mr mayor, you have been elected through our votes. If we go without food and work, we won’t let anyone live. We shall not return home until we are allowed to resume our business on the footpaths,” Hazrat Ali said.
On January 11, Sayeed Khokon announced that street vendors would not be allowed to run their business on streets and footpaths before 6:30pm on weekly holidays. However, they will be not barred from keeping their shops open throughout the day on weekends and holidays, he said. The decision came into effect from Sunday.
Over the last two days, the authorities conducted raids to evict street vendors at Gulistan, Paltan, Baitul, Mokarram, Motijheel and Dilkusha areas in the capital.
On Monday, hawkers' representatives met Khokan and submitted their 10-point demands, which included stopping evictions without resettlement. 
The mayor, however, made it clear that he will not budge from his stand. He said that the Prime Minister had asked him to take measures in keeping with the law to make things better for pedestrians.
Dismissing the DSCC mayor’s claim, hawkers' leader Abul Hossain said yesterday: “The Prime Minister has never told to evict hawkers.” 
He requested the mayor to take steps in accordance with the ECNEC's decision.
Describing the eviction drive as "inhuman", Abul Hossain said: “The mayor alone cannot take the decision. Both the Prime Minister and local lawmaker are abroad now. We'll meet the Prime Minister after she comes back from Switzerland and submit a memorandum to her to register our protest against the eviction drive.”
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hawkers’ Union has threatened to continue their agitation programme. “Our movement cannot be stopped by using force. We won’t leave the streets unless our demand is met,” said Abul Hashem Kabir, convener of the Bangladesh Hawkers' Union.
BSS adds:  Pedestrians today expressed satisfaction over the decision of keeping footpaths and roads hawker-free on workdays in the capital, reports BSS.
They welcomed the decision of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) as they felt comfortable to move on the roads and footpaths unhindered. They hoped that the DSCC would not change its stance for political or any other reason after a few days. The city corporation must stick to its decision at any cost, they suggested. The DSCC decision to keep roads and footpaths hawker-free on workdays came into force on Sunday.
Government official at law ministry, Abu Taher told BSS that he regularly goes to Bangladesh Secretariat from Mugda on foot. He had to face difficulties to walks as the hawkers occupied footpaths and road, he said, adding that now he can walk to and from this office comfortably.
Private service-holder SM Aminul Momin said the DSCC has taken a time- befitting decision. Earlier, the whole city seemed to be a market because of the shops of hawkers on footpaths, he said and added that such an unruly situation cannot continue for long.
Aminul Momin appreciated the decision of DSCC mayor and said all citizens should render cooperation to the mayor in this regard.
Guardian of a student of Wills Little Flower School, Shahnaz Begum Nodi said they are happy with the mayor's decision of not allowing hawkers on footpaths. Now they can walk on roads and footpaths easily, she said.

Hawkers demand policy outlining rehabilitation

Hawkers evicted from the footpaths of Gulistan, Paltan and Motijheel under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have demanded a policy outlining their rehabilitation to run their business. A coalition of 16 hawkers unions under Hawker Samonnoy Parishad yesterday placed the demand during a protest rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Abul Hossain, coordinator of Hawker Samonnoy Parishad, said DNCC mayor Sayeed Khokon had taken arbitrary steps on the eviction which has threatened their livelihoods. The DSCC authorities have evicted street vendors from Gulistan, Baitul Mokarram, Motijheel and Paltan areas. Executive magistrate of DSCC, Khan Mohammad Nazmus Shoeb, conducted the eviction drive for the third day in and around Gulistan yesterday. Issuing a stern warning to the DSCC mayor, Abul Hossain said: Your father was also the mayor of the city and he had never evicted hawkers. We hope you wont take such a decision. He also warned the mayor of dire consequences if he did not change the decision. Hawkers union leader Hazrat Ali alleged that the DSCC had conducted the eviction drive against the promise committed to hawkers during Mondays meeting. The hawkers are in trouble now. If the hawkers are not well, the mayor, too, will not be well, he warned the mayor. Mr mayor, you have been elected through our votes. If we go without food and work, we wont let anyone live. We shall not return home until we are allowed to resume our business on the footpaths, Hazrat Ali said. On January 11, Sayeed Khokon announced that street vendors would not be allowed to run their business on streets and footpaths before 6:30pm on weekly holidays. However, they will be not barred from keeping their shops open throughout the day on weekends and holidays, he said. The decision came into effect from Sunday. Over the last two days, the authorities conducted raids to evict street vendors at Gulistan, Paltan, Baitul, Mokarram, Motijheel and Dilkusha areas in the capital. On Monday, hawkers representatives met Khokan and submitted their 10-point demands, which included stopping evictions without resettlement. The mayor, however, made it clear that he will not budge from his stand. He said that the Prime Minister had asked him to take measures in keeping with the law to make things better for pedestrians. Dismissing the DSCC mayors claim, hawkers leader Abul Hossain said yesterday: The Prime Minister has never told to evict hawkers. He requested the mayor to take steps in accordance with the ECNECs decision. Describing the eviction drive as inhuman, Abul Hossain said: The mayor alone cannot take the decision. Both the Prime Minister and local lawmaker are abroad now. Well meet the Prime Minister after she comes back from Switzerland and submit a memorandum to her to register our protest against the eviction drive. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hawkers Union has threatened to continue their agitation programme. Our movement cannot be stopped by using force. We wont leave the streets unless our demand is met, said Abul Hashem Kabir, convener of the Bangladesh Hawkers Union. BSS adds: Pedestrians today expressed satisfaction over the decision of keeping footpaths and roads hawker-free on workdays in the capital, reports BSS. They welcomed the decision of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) as they felt comfortable to move on the roads and footpaths unhindered. They hoped that the DSCC would not change its stance for political or any other reason after a few days. The city corporation must stick to its decision at any cost, they suggested. The DSCC decision to keep roads and footpaths hawker-free on workdays came into force on Sunday. Government official at law ministry, Abu Taher told BSS that he regularly goes to Bangladesh Secretariat from Mugda on foot. He had to face difficulties to walks as the hawkers occupied footpaths and road, he said, adding that now he can walk to and from this office comfortably. Private service-holder SM Aminul Momin said the DSCC has taken a time- befitting decision. Earlier, the whole city seemed to be a market because of the shops of hawkers on footpaths, he said and added that such an unruly situation cannot continue for long. Aminul Momin appreciated the decision of DSCC mayor and said all citizens should render cooperation to the mayor in this regard. Guardian of a student of Wills Little Flower School, Shahnaz Begum Nodi said they are happy with the mayors decision of not allowing hawkers on footpaths. Now they can walk on roads and footpaths easily, she said.