Licensing system planned for footpath vendors

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has announced plans to introduce a licensing system for footpath vendors across the capital in a bid to regulate street vending and ensure unobstructed pedestrian movement.

The DSCC will issue licences to registered vendors as part of an initiative aimed at keeping the city’s footpaths clear while bringing hawker activities under a more organised management system.

The announcement was made on Wednesday (April 15) following the inauguration of a pilot project titled “Creation of an Aesthetic Environment,” which involved clearing encroachments from the footpath in front of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam disclosed the plan during the programme.

He said that, going forward, anyone wishing to operate a business on Dhaka’s footpaths must obtain permission from the 
City Corporation and comply with legal requirements. Emphasising shared responsibility, he noted that both citizens and the authorities must work together to ensure public convenience.

Abdus Salam further said that specific guidelines will be introduced outlining where hawkers will be allowed to operate and how much space they may use. A survey, to be conducted with police assistance, is expected to be completed within a week to help restore order on the footpaths. The main objective of the survey is to prevent excessive stalls from occupying limited space.

He urged all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring that the cleared footpath in front of DMC Hospital is not encroached upon again.

Calling for greater public awareness, the DSCC administrator also urged residents to maintain cleanliness and help prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.

He stressed that keeping the city clean is essential to preventing diseases such as chikungunya and dengue, adding that every citizen must take responsibility for maintaining their surroundings.