Hawkers seek rehab law from government

Hawkers plan to march to the Prime Minister’s Office on January 27 to demand a long-term plan for their rehabilitation. 
Leaders of Bangladesh Hawkers Union (BHU) announced this at a press meet at Maitry Bhavan in Paltan yesterday. They said the government must enact relevant laws for their rehabilitation. They cited an Act passed by the Indian parliament in this regard in 2014.
“Instead of forcibly evicting us, provide us one-fourth space on the pavements to carry out our business for our survival,” a BHU leader said.
The union is going to hold a meeting of delegates at Maitry Bhavan Auditorium today at 11am to discuss the protest programme, Abdul Hashem Kabir, BHU convenor, said in a written statement containing their demands. Citing their meeting with the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Sayeed Khokan, on Monday, the BHU leaders alleged that they were being forcibly removed and their properties destroyed because of his unjust and adamant attitude.
Rejecting the mayor’s contention that the hawkers were being removed to ease traffic congestion in the city, they presented a few observations from a study on traffic management on city streets, which was presented at BRAC Inn Centre on December 24, 2016.
The study had pointed out that indiscriminate parking, occupation of roads by private cars and violation of traffic rules were the three reasons for traffic congestion on city streets. “These findings are based on research and negate the city corporation’s contention,” Kabir said.
The BHU statement said the contribution of hawkers to the economy cannot be denied. 
“A majority of people from lower and middle income groups buy things from pavements on their way back home from work. The eviction of hawkers would not only make them bankrupt, but destabilise the situation in the city as well,” it added.
Earlier on Tuesday, BHU central leaders Sekander Hayat, Murshiqul Islam Shimul,Hazrat Ali and Dulal Mia were also present at the press meet.
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.

 

Hawkers seek rehab law from government

Hawkers plan to march to the Prime Ministers Office on January 27 to demand a long-term plan for their rehabilitation. Leaders of Bangladesh Hawkers Union (BHU) announced this at a press meet at Maitry Bhavan in Paltan yesterday. They said the government must enact relevant laws for their rehabilitation. They cited an Act passed by the Indian parliament in this regard in 2014. Instead of forcibly evicting us, provide us one-fourth space on the pavements to carry out our business for our survival, a BHU leader said. The union is going to hold a meeting of delegates at Maitry Bhavan Auditorium today at 11am to discuss the protest programme, Abdul Hashem Kabir, BHU convenor, said in a written statement containing their demands. Citing their meeting with the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Sayeed Khokan, on Monday, the BHU leaders alleged that they were being forcibly removed and their properties destroyed because of his unjust and adamant attitude. Rejecting the mayors contention that the hawkers were being removed to ease traffic congestion in the city, they presented a few observations from a study on traffic management on city streets, which was presented at BRAC Inn Centre on December 24, 2016. The study had pointed out that indiscriminate parking, occupation of roads by private cars and violation of traffic rules were the three reasons for traffic congestion on city streets. These findings are based on research and negate the city corporations contention, Kabir said. The BHU statement said the contribution of hawkers to the economy cannot be denied. A majority of people from lower and middle income groups buy things from pavements on their way back home from work. The eviction of hawkers would not only make them bankrupt, but destabilise the situation in the city as well, it added. Earlier on Tuesday, BHU central leaders Sekander Hayat, Murshiqul Islam Shimul,Hazrat Ali and Dulal Mia were also present at the press meet. 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.