Clash over footpath eviction leaves several injured

Tension escalated in the capital's Baitul Mukarram area on Saturday morning following an ongoing eviction drive against illegal footpath occupation, exposing renewed friction between enforcement efforts and informal street trading networks.

The incident took place around 10:00 am near Swarnagali, adjacent to the South Gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, where shop owners and street vendors became involved in a confrontation that left several people injured.

According to police and local sources, the conflict stemmed from an eviction operation carried out by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on April 9, during which makeshift shops along the GPO Link Road footpath were demolished using heavy machinery to clear illegal structures and restore pedestrian access.

However, vendors reportedly returned to the cleared space within a day, leading to renewed tension with nearby permanent traders, particularly gold shop owners in the area.

On Saturday morning, members of a local traders' association began removing wooden tables and temporary setups placed by vendors on the footpath. The situation quickly escalated as vendors resisted, triggering a clash involving chasing, counter-chasing and brick throwing.

Eyewitnesses said the confrontation turned chaotic within minutes in the busy commercial area, leaving several people injured before police intervened.