HC questions Dhaka hawker policy legality

The High Court has issued a rule seeking to know why allocating space for hawkers on the roads and footpaths of the capital should not be declared illegal and unlawful.

On Tuesday, the High Court bench led by Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty issued this rule. In it, the High Court sought to know why the allocation of roads and footpaths to hawkers under the Dhaka City Hawker Management Policy should not be declared contradictory to the Constitution.

In the writ filed by Advocate Md. Shoeabuzzaman challenging the Dhaka Hawker Management Policy-2026, the Local Government Secretary, Law Secretary, administrators of both Dhaka city corporations, and other relevant parties have been asked to respond to the rule within the next four weeks.

Earlier, Advocate Shoeabuzzaman had filed a writ in the High Court challenging the Dhaka Hawker Management Policy-2026. For a long time, ordinary pedestrians have been suffering immensely due to hawkers occupying the footpaths of the capital.

The Hawker Management Policy-2026 contains provisions for allocating space to hawkers in certain specific locations.

However, criticism against this policy had been growing in various quarters. Now, this rule issued by the High Court questioning the validity of that policy has generated fresh interest among city residents..