The leaders of Hawkers' Federation on Tuesday demanded rehabilitation of the street vendors before evicting them from Gulistan, Motijheel and Paltan areas
The demand came from a rally held in front of the National Press Club where several groups of agitating hawkers protested the move by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to evict the street vendors from the three areas.
They also demanded that the DSCC authorities rehabilitate those who have been evicted from Gulistan and Paltan areas in the last two days.
"We requested the DSCC to withdraw the eviction drive before providing alternative places for us" Hawkers Federation leader Abul Hasan Kabir said.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) with the help of police removed the illegal structures from the pavements in Gulistan area on Tuesday.
The drive started at 11:30 am and lasted for one and a half hours. The DSCC authorities continued the drive with the help of police and kept bulldozars standby in Gulistan area.
They also demolished the shops on the footpaths and in Gulistan underpass Market and in front of Golap Shah Mazar.
DSCC Executive Magistrate Khan Md Nazmus Shoib conducted the drive without any resistance.
"If anybody comes to stop the drive, it will be tackled as per the law. We have permission to demolish such structures," the magistrate said, adding that the drive will continue to ensure free streets for the city dwellers.
Md Nazrul Islam, who had been selling garments in Gulistan area for over 15years, said the city corporation is evicting them without making any arrangement for their rehabilitation.
Many vendors said they were evicted on the grounds of traffic congestions, which caused not by the vendors, but the building in the area having no car park.
Dhaka South City Corporation on January 11 announced that it would not allow any vendor at Gulistan and its adjacent areas during office hours.
The decision was made after a meeting with hawkers Federation leaders, law enforcers and other public officials at the corporation's headquarters, Nagar Bhaban, on the day.
According to the announcement, hawkers will be allowed in Gulistan areas after 6:30pm on working days.
Vendor Mizanur said he sat on the pavement with goods Monday evening and got hardly any customer in the winter.
Dhaka South City Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon vowed that no vendors would be allowed on the busy roads in Gulistan during office hours.
On Monday, hawkers' representatives met Mayor Khokan and submitted their 10-point demand, including withdrawal of eviction order without rehabilitation.
On October 27,2016, the city corporation evicted over 100 hawkers and demolished their structures in Gulistan area.
