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No eviction of hawkers before rehabilitation: Union
Published : Sunday, 18 October, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
The Bangladesh Hawkers' Union has demanded an end to evictions of hawkers' shops and stalls until proper rehabilitation is ensured.
The organisation's leaders called for permanent rehabilitation before any stalls are removed and urged authorities to resolve the issue through discussions with hawker leaders.
They made the demands at a protest rally organised by the union in front of the National Press Club on Sunday morning, with hawkers from Dhaka North and South city corporation areas taking part.
Speakers alleged that hawkers' stalls were being removed in different parts of Dhaka, including Jatrabari, Shyampur and Mirpur. They also alleged that their goods were being damaged or set on fire and that they were being threatened with arrest.
The speakers said many hawkers had come to Dhaka from different parts of the country in search of work and depended on street vending to support their families. Evicting them without alternative arrangements was inhumane, they said.
They warned that depriving people of their livelihoods without providing alternative employment could worsen social and economic problems.
Jolly Talukder, adviser to the Bangladesh Hawkers' Union, said police harassment, threats and the fear of bulldozers would not stop the hawkers' movement.
She also criticised those around the government for allegedly failing to convey the hardships faced by ordinary people.
Jolly called for the unconditional release of arrested hawkers, withdrawal of cases filed against them and talks between the administration and hawker leaders.
At the rally, the union presented a 10-point set of demands to protect hawkers' rights and livelihoods. These included halting evictions without rehabilitation, recognising hawkers' economic contributions, enacting a law to protect their livelihoods, ending extortion and repression, preparing a list of genuine hawkers, allocating reclaimed public land to them, adopting a five-year rehabilitation plan, allocating funds in the national budget and ensuring that shops in hawkers' markets go to genuine vendors.
-MT
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
