PM calls for fast rehabilitation of Dhaka hawkers

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the authorities concerned to ensure the swift rehabilitation of street hawkers evicted from several areas of Dhaka, calling for coordinated efforts to identify suitable alternative locations for their resettlement.

He gave the instruction during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Tejgaon this afternoon.

Senior officials from the Local Government Division, Dhaka North and South city corporations, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) attended the meeting, said a PMO release.

The prime minister instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to work in coordination to quickly identify designated vending zones where displaced hawkers can continue their businesses in a dignified and orderly manner.

He said the relocated vendors must be provided with spaces where they can operate comfortably.

Recently, several hundred makeshift shops were evicted from key areas of Dhaka North City Corporation, including Mirpur-1, as well as from Dhaka South City Corporation areas such as Motijheel, Baitul Mukarram, Paltan, and Gulistan.

The meeting decided that the government would arrange alternative locations for the evicted street vendors.

It also discussed introducing a registration system to issue identity cards to hawkers to ensure better regulation of their activities.

The prime minister stressed the need to reduce traffic congestion during school opening and closing hours, noting that unmanaged parking in front of educational institutions often contributes to gridlock.

He suggested that a part of the school grounds could be used for parking to help ease congestion.

Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan, Rajuk Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqur Rahman Khan, DMP Acting Commissioner Md Sarwar and DIG (Traffic) Anisur Rahman were present.