Jamaat wants orderly hawker trade

Jamaat-e-Islami amir and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman has called for a sustainable and coordinated approach to the street-hawker issue, urging the government to provide designated trading spaces and involve local MPs in initiatives aimed at resolving the problem.

He made the remarks on Wednesday after visiting the site of an eviction drive in Mirpur, where clashes between hawkers and authorities led to vandalism and the burning of vehicles.

Shafiqur said small traders should be allowed to earn their livelihoods while roads and footpaths are kept clear for vehicles and pedestrians.

“The city corporation can collect reasonable taxes from them, and there should be no extortion. They should not have to suffer the harassment of extortion,” he said.

He said many small traders come to Dhaka from rural areas in search of work but are forced to operate on roads and footpaths because of a lack of suitable trading facilities.

“Roads should remain open for vehicles and footpaths for pedestrians,” he said, calling for hawkers to be relocated to appropriate places where they could continue their businesses.

Shafiqur also urged the government to involve local MPs in future public welfare initiatives, noting that the Mirpur eviction drive covered the Dhaka-15 and Dhaka-16 constituencies.

He condemned the burning of government vehicles during the clashes, saying public property was funded by taxpayers and should be protected.

The Jamaat chief also called for action against extortion, land grabbing and corruption across the country.

Urging all sides to remain calm, he said a solution that was acceptable and beneficial to everyone should be pursued through patience, coordination and dialogue.