Vendors back on streets, footpaths

Vendors evicted from the streets and sidewalks of the capital in January returned to make their presence too obvious with the backing of corrupt sections of the police and the ruling Awami League’s local leaders.
Pedestrians, being affected the most said that thousands of vendors returned to Gulistan, Motijheel, Shahbag, New Market and other busy areas to resume their business as usual.
Busy roads and sidewalks remain under their control from morning to late hours at night throughout the week.
The indifference of the authorities has emboldened the vendors much to the inconvenience of vehicular traffic as well as the pedestrians.
Dhaka South City Corporation’s chief estate officer Mohammed Kamrul Islam Chowdury denied the allegation saying that they appointed 92 paid volunteers to keep the evicted vendors out of the roads and the sidewalks.
After holding a meeting with the vendors’ leaders in January, Dhaka South City mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon declared that no vendor would be allowed to do business on the e streets and sidewalks again during the office hours.
The mayor had also announced that the evicted vendors would be duly rehabilitated.
The vendors said they were forced to return to the streets and the sidewalks to earn their living as their rehabilitation remained an empty commitment.
Bangladesh Hawkers League and Bangladesh Hawkers Federation president MA Kashem, also DSCC hawker rehabilitation committee member, demanded immediate rehabilitation of all vendors.
He said that it would not be possible to keep the vendors away from the streets and the sidewalks until they were rehabilitated.
Pedestrians accused the capital’s two city corporations of lacking the commitment to keep the streets and the sidewalks free.
During visits to different areas of the capital New Age on Sunday found vendors doing brisk business on busy footpaths and the streets.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s assistant commissioner for Motijheel division Mazharul Islam denied that the vendors were back on the streets and the sidewalks with the backing of the police.
He also said that due to manpower shortage the DMP cannot keep the roads free all the time.
AL Dhaka south unit general Secretary Shahe Alam Murad also denied the allegation that ruling party men facilitated vendors’ return to the streets and the sidewalks. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net