Hawkers warn Mayor of repercussions when they complain to Prime Minister

The Hawkers Coordination Council has warned Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon they would complain to the prime minister about the continued eviction of hawkers.

Council Convener Abul Hossain made the comments during scheduled demonstrations at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue on Thursday.

“The prime minister has promised the resettlement of hawkers,” he said. “But [the mayor] has not listened and continues evicting hawkers.”

“Can you tell me where hawkers have been relocated? How large is the building for their stalls? They are evicting us without any plans.”

Abul Hossain said the hawkers do not want to file a complaint with the prime minister, but “if [the mayor] compels us to do so then we will.”

“We will go to the prime minister. Then you will have to deal with the fallout. Our protest will continue until the Mayor fulfils our demands.”

Hawkers Coordination Council leaders Kamal Siddique, Shafiur Rahman, Mohammad Yusuf and others also addressed the demonstrators.

The union had led a protest march from Motijheel through Baitul Mukarram, Paltan, Zero Point, and Gulistan before it came to Bangabandhu Avenue. The coalition of 16 hawkers’ associations then held a short assembly before the Ramna Bhaban.

Hawkers have carried out regular protests since evictions began in Dhaka’s Motijheel and Gulistan in the first half of January.

Leaders and representatives of hawkers from around Dhaka will meet at the Taher Auditorium on Saturday for further discussion.