Shafiqur surprised by Mirpur eviction drive

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has urged calm following clashes between police, city corporation officials and hawkers during an eviction drive in Mirpur, Dhaka.

In a post on his verified Facebook account on Wednesday, he said alternative arrangements should be made for small traders before conducting eviction drives, while ensuring that public movement remains unobstructed.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), along with police, launched the drive around 10:30am from Mirpur-13 towards Mirpur-10 and the Hope Market area to clear footpaths of encroachments. The operation later turned violent, with city corporation vehicles set on fire and a police vehicle vandalised.

Shafiqur said the constituency was an important parliamentary seat and that he had been elected by its residents. He expressed surprise that the eviction drive had been conducted without informing him as the local lawmaker.

“Had the concerned authorities consulted the local MP before taking action on an issue affecting the people, the matter could perhaps have been implemented in a more coordinated manner,” he said.

He called for a practical approach that would prevent small traders from being unnecessarily affected while keeping footpaths accessible to the public.

The Jamaat chief also referred to allegations of extortion involving roadside traders in Mirpur. He said unscrupulous individuals had allegedly been collecting money from small traders on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis in exchange for allowing them to conduct business in the area.

Describing such practices as highly condemnable, he said the financial burden ultimately falls on consumers and the general public.

Shafiqur stressed the need for a coordinated, well-planned and sustainable approach rather than isolated measures.

He also said alternative arrangements should be made for the affected small traders before any eviction operation is carried out, and questioned whether any such arrangements had been made.

Calling for future operations to involve the local MP and other relevant stakeholders, he urged everyone to remain calm for the time being.

“Wherever there is a problem, there is also a way to resolve it,” he said, adding that solutions should be impartial, practical and humane and should not unnecessarily harm anyone.

He concluded by saying that there was no place for “accomplices of fascism”.