Footpath eviction drive faces attacks at Mirpur 

An eviction drive on footpaths in the Mirpur-10 area of the capital turned violent on Wednesday as clashes broke out, with attacks, vandalism and arson leaving two city corporation vehicles damaged by fire and a police vehicle vandalised.

Police fired tear gas to bring the situation under control. Several people, including police members, were injured in the incident. More than 30 people were detained, police said.

Vehicular movement between Mirpur-10 and Mirpur-14 came to a halt during the clashes but resumed after the situation returned to normal.

Mirpur Model Police Station Duty Officer Md Shahidul Islam confirmed the matter.

DNCC, police, media vehicles damaged, 30 held

Police and local sources said a Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mobile court, assisted by police, went to the Mirpur area around 9:30am to remove illegal occupants from footpaths. According to the locals, a fire broke out beside a building at Mirpur-10 during the eviction drive. 

Police said the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, while locals claimed it started after a bulldozer hit the building. 

Then, angered by the incident, hawkers and footpath traders allegedly set fire to two DNCC garbage trucks. They also vandalised an excavator and damaged a police vehicle. Two Fire Service units worked to put out the fire.

The incident later escalated into clashes.

Rozina Akter, duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters control room, said that they received information about the fire at 10:52am. Two units were sent to the scene and brought the fire under control after about 30 minutes.

Witnesses said tensions remained high at the scene after 11:45am. At one point, police fired tear-gas shells, prompting footpath traders to throw bricks and stones at police.

Witnesses also said the number of footpath traders at the scene was higher than that of police personnel, forcing some police members to retreat in the face of the brickbatting.

Several hawkers also got into arguments with journalists who went to the area to collect information and take photographs. A private television channel's vehicle was vandalised, while several journalists were reportedly harassed and confronted.

Many hawkers were seen crying at the scene.

Kamrun Nahar, a hawker, said, “We are poor. We earn our living by running a business with this van. I told the officials, ‘Sir, I am leaving,’ but they did not listen. They broke the vehicle.”

Many hawkers said they had no alternative means of livelihood and depended on street vending and footpath businesses to support their families.

Some hawkers expressed anger over the eviction drive, saying they had been left with little choice after losing their means of livelihood.

DMP Assistant Commissioner (Mirpur Zone) Abul Bashar Molla said hawkers attacked police and DNCC officials and employees during the city corporation's regular eviction drive.

“They set fire to two city corporation vehicles and vandalised a police vehicle. At least nine police personnel were injured,” he said.

He said additional police forces were brought in to bring the situation under control and at least 30 people had been detained so far.

The police official said footpath eviction drives had also been conducted previously in the Mirpur-10 area with police assistance.

“Today, the police and city corporation personnel were suddenly attacked. Those involved will be brought to justice, and regular eviction drives will continue in the area,” he said.

He added that cases would be filed against those involved in the attack and vandalism.

Meanwhile, local residents said DNCC Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan and BNP leaders and activists were marching and chanting slogans in the area.

Later, DNCC Administrator Shafiqul Islam went to the Hope Market area in Mirpur and spoke to journalists. He claimed that the attack and arson were planned and that those involved had prepared in advance.

“Accomplices of fascism carried out this act,” he said.

The DNCC administrator said the city corporation regularly conducts eviction drives to ensure public convenience.

“Those who had occupied the footpaths for a long time, allegedly with the instigation of others, attacked city corporation vehicles, journalists and some police personnel today,” he said, adding that the attackers were later forced to retreat in the face of resistance from local residents.

Shafiqul Islam said the programme to reclaim footpaths would continue to ensure the smooth movement of city residents.

“I clearly declare that the programme to reclaim footpaths for city services and the unhindered movement of my fellow city residents will continue,” he said.

He said cases would be filed against those involved in the incident by both police and the city corporation.
“They must be investigated and arrested immediately. No one will be allowed to occupy the footpaths illegally,” he said.