Hawkers warn against eviction sans alternative arrangements

Hawker leaders have demanded a halt to footpath evictions until alternative trading spaces are arranged, warning that they will surround police stations if more vendors are arrested.

The warning came at a protest organised by the Bangladesh Hawkers' Union in front of the National Press Club on Monday against the alleged arrest of seven hawkers involved in the anti-eviction movement. More than 1,000 vendors from different parts of the capital attended the demonstration, according to the organisers.

The protesters said a month of eviction drives had left thousands of hawker families struggling to afford food, children's education and loan repayments. They urged the authorities to allow vendors to operate on footpaths from 3pm to 10pm under a regulated system or resolve the issue based on the union's 12-point charter of demands.

Hawker leaders said they wanted to earn a living independently rather than serve the interests of any political party. They also called for the suspension of loan instalments from banks and non-governmental organisations until alternative trading spaces were provided.

Joly Talukder, an adviser to the union, said forced evictions and arrests would not resolve the problem. She urged the authorities to hold discussions with hawker representatives and establish arrangements that protect both pedestrian movement and vendors' livelihoods.

She warned that the union would continue peaceful demonstrations and submit a memorandum to the prime minister if their demands were ignored.

Nasir, a hawker leader from Mirpur, called evictions without rehabilitation inhumane, citing their impact on families' incomes and children's education.

The protesters urged the Dhaka North City Corporation and other authorities to pursue a negotiated solution that keeps footpaths accessible while safeguarding hawkers' right to earn a living.