Doubts remain as hawker-free footpaths bring relief

The hawker-free footpaths at Gulistan and Motijheel are bringing sighs of relief but some are worried about the old chaos returning.

Many of them, particularly the office goers, have welcomed the eviction by the Dhaka South City Corporation.

"It is now easier to commute. Before we took the streets because the footpaths belonged to hawkers," said Maksudur Rahman, who works for an insurance company at Motijheel.

Md Mamun, a businessman from the Gulistan Hawker's Market, also agreed.

"We know that the hawkers are facing problems but people can now at least walk safely," he said.

Streets in Gulistan, Baitul Mukarram, Paltan, and Motijheel were found free of hawkers during office hours on Thursday.

The footpaths as well as the roads along the Dhaka stadium and Rajuk Avenue used to be abuzz with hawkers in Motijheel.

'Mishkat', a sales executive at Electromart, said: "The hawkers used to occupy the streets even and hinder traffic."

Now the place looked neat due to the thorough eviction drives of the DSCC.

Some are worried, however, that the hawkers would return to crowd the streets.

"Hawkers were evicted many times before but the situation would always be back to square one," said Ekram Ullah Bhuiyan, who walks to his office in Motijheel.

"I hope this is not just for show," he added.

DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon has promised that authorities will make sure there are no obstructions on footpaths.

“People are happy to see the footpaths free of hawkers. Many have congratulated me."

He claimed that the traffic situation on the whole has improved in Gulistan and areas nearby.

On Jan 11, the mayor briefed the media that hawkers would not be allowed to carry on their businesses on footpaths in Gulistan until 6pm on working days.

Three days later, three executive magistrates of the city corporation began evicting hawkers and makeshift shops from Gulistan, Baitul Mukarram, Bangabandhu Avenue, Zero Point, Paltan, Dainik Bangla Morh, Motijheel and Dilkusha.

But some hawkers were still finding their way to the footpaths, dodging mobile courts that patrol these areas.

Some were seen selling fruits in front of the Gulistan Shopping Complex while others sold clothes on the same road.

Hawkers are still managing to gather at Golap Shah Mazar. They were seen putting up shoes on sale on the streets between Ahad Box and Phulbarhia.

Hawkers said they were trying to grab every chance they get.

"What can we do? We have to make a living! We just run away when we see police coming our way," said Abu Taher, seated in front of the Agrani Bank.

About the ongoing movement of the hawkers' councils, Mayor Khokon said a ‘vested quarter’ was trying to create chaos.

"A group used to earn millions through extortion in these areas. These criminals who enjoy political influence are opposing our initiative," he told bdnews24.com.

Anyone trying to foil the move would face legal action, warned Mayor Khokon.