Dhaka:Hawkers will no longer be permitted to operate on the footpaths of Mirpur-10 and Mirpur-1 in Dhaka, as announced by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan. This decision is part of an effort to clear the pathways for public use.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the DNCC administrator shared these developments during a meeting with a 10-member delegation from the Bangladesh Hawkers Union at the DNCC conference room. The delegation submitted a memorandum requesting the rehabilitation of hawkers, emphasizing their role in the city.
Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan acknowledged the importance of hawkers and stated that the DNCC is actively seeking alternative locations for them to conduct their businesses, particularly in Mirpur-10, Mirpur-1, and Uttara. He clarified that at these new sites, hawkers would be allowed to operate solely from mobile vehicles, and no makeshift platforms or stalls would be tolerated.
The administrator also mentioned plans to introduce holiday markets for hawkers, which the DNCC aims to establish for those displaced from the footpaths. He expressed hopes that by providing alternative locations for 300 to 500 shops, it would attract customers, thereby enhancing business opportunities.
The authorities have been compelled to remove illegal structures and hawkers from the footpaths due to the activities of certain syndicates and vendors who have encroached not only on footpaths but also on parts of the roads. This has left pedestrians with little space to walk, with many unaware that footpaths are meant for public use.
Both the DNCC and the hawkers' representatives pledged to cooperate, maintaining trust and confidence in one another. Present at the meeting were the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Gulshan Zone Md. Ruhul Kabir, Officer-in-Charge of Gulshan and Banani police stations, as well as other police members.