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The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) declared a key Gulistan road hawker-free on Thursday morning. But hours later, hawkers had again occupied the main road and footpaths beside Golap Shah Mazar, exposing the gap between the city corporation’s latest order and its enforcement on the ground.
The illegal occupation has left only a narrow passage for traffic along the busy road, forcing pedestrians and small vehicles to share the cramped space and worsening congestion in one of central Dhaka’s busiest areas.
The DSCC had recently evicted illegal structures from the footpaths around Golap Shah Mazar and demarcated specific areas where hawkers would be allowed to sell goods.
Instead of remaining within those designated areas, however, hawkers have returned to the footpaths and extended their makeshift shops onto the main road.
The renewed encroachment comes as the DSCC has announced a stricter policy for the entire stretch from Paltan intersection through Gulistan Zero Point to North South Road.
DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam made the declaration during an inspection of the area on Thursday morning, saying hawkers would not be allowed on the main road under any circumstances.
He warned that anyone violating the order would face immediate legal action.
“We have held several rounds of discussions with representatives of different hawker organisations. They have also voluntarily pledged to leave these main roads,” Salam said.
The administrator said the move was intended to restore pedestrian movement and reduce public suffering caused by encroachment on roads and footpaths.
Under the DSCC’s arrangement, only a limited number of registered hawkers will be allowed to operate at designated locations on the eastern side footpath beside Ramna Bhaban, while space for pedestrians must remain unobstructed.
Hawkers operating outside the designated locations, times or permitted numbers will not be allowed, Salam said.
“No one will be given any concession if the rules are violated,” he said.
The latest scene at Golap Shah Mazar, however, raises questions over how effectively the order is being enforced. Despite a recent eviction drive and fresh instructions, the road and footpath have again been turned into makeshift marketplaces.
The administrator also said a demand from hawker organisations to reduce registration fees had already been sent to the relevant ministry. Further decisions will be taken in line with the ministry’s instructions.
During Thursday’s inspection, Salam spent more than an hour overseeing efforts to clear the road and footpaths from Paltan intersection to Gulistan Zero Point.
DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Khayrul Rahman, Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, other senior officials and representatives of hawker organisations were present.
The repeated return of hawkers to the Golap Shah Mazar area now puts the focus on whether the latest hawker-free declaration will translate into sustained enforcement or, as in previous drives, give way to renewed occupation.