Dhaka: Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam announced plans to rehabilitate hawkers in an organized manner, adhering to government policy, while prohibiting vending on main roads.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the remarks were made during a discussion on hawker management held at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium, with the DSCC administrator chairing the session. Salam emphasized the importance of orderly hawker management to ensure civic amenities and facilitate uninterrupted movement of people in Dhaka. He stated that while the livelihoods of hawkers should not be disrupted, it is impractical to accommodate all floating individuals from across the country in Dhaka as hawkers.
Salam highlighted the need to strictly follow the Hawker Management Policy for a sustainable solution. This includes registration, regular renewal, and adherence to designated roads and business hours upon payment of prescribed fees. He clarified that hawkers would not be permitted to operate on main roads under any circumstance. Instead, a limited number of registered hawkers will be allowed on roads with sufficiently wide footpaths, ensuring adequate space for pedestrians.
To accommodate other hawkers, Salam announced the introduction of holiday markets and night markets. These measures align with the recently issued Dhaka City Hawker Management Policy-2026, aimed at making the capital cleaner, more pedestrian-friendly, and free from traffic congestion. The policy is applicable to areas under both the DSCC and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), in accordance with Section 120(2) of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009. Circulars detailing fees under the policy have also been issued.
The policy requires hawkers to pay a one-time registration fee of Tk 5,000, an annual renewal fee of Tk 2,500, and a monthly space-use and waste management fee of Tk 3,000. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and Bangladeshi citizens. Registered hawkers will receive digital identity cards with barcodes or QR codes, specifying their designated business location and operating hours.
Holiday markets will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays from 7 am to 5 pm at designated locations, such as wide roads in front of government offices or educational institutions. Night markets will function in commercial areas from 6 pm to 10 pm after office hours. However, markets cannot be established on playgrounds, places of worship, or cemeteries.
The policy also reserves 30 percent of allocated space for women and persons with disabilities. At least 1.5 meters of footpath space must remain open for pedestrian movement, and the construction of any permanent structure is prohibited. Hawkers are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in their designated areas and disposing of waste in designated bins. Trading without a license or beyond designated boundaries may lead to eviction and cancellation of registration.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the DSCC and Dhaka Metropolitan Police, representatives of various hawker organizations, and journalists from different media outlets.