Several groups of hawkers had been continuing their agitation against the Dhaka South City Corporation's move to evict street vendors from Gulistan, Motijheel and Paltan. At a rally in front of the National Press Club yesterday, several hawkers' organizations demanded a policy for rehabilitating those evicted in the last two days. Speaking at the rally, hawkers' leader Abul Hossain warned Dhaka South Mayor Sayeed Khokon of 'dire consequences.'
He said the city corporation's current eviction drive in the name of keeping footpaths free from occupation is 'inhuman' and the eviction drive has not been conducted following the Prime Minister's directives to rehabilitate the hawkers first before going for such an action. The Hawkers Samannoy Parishad leaders said they believe the eviction of hawkers before their rehabilitation is a violation of human rights. They urged the authorities concerned to take steps for formulating a hawker rehabilitation policy in consultation with the representatives of vendors' organizations. The hawker leaders said they are ready to provide all-out cooperation to the authorities to this end.
Earlier on Monday, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Syed Khokon said the drive to keep the footpaths in Gulistan and its adjoining areas free from hawkers during office hours will continue. On January 11, a decision was taken not to allow any hawker to sit in Gulistan and its adjoining areas during office hours for the smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
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