Authorities in Dhaka have begun marking out sections of cleared footpaths in Gulistan to reallocate spaces to hawkers following a recent eviction drive, while also moving forward with a controversial rehabilitation process.
The move comes amid confusion and conflicting statements over which agency is preparing the list of hawkers eligible for allocation, raising questions over transparency and coordination between city authorities and law enforcement.
According to officials, the marked divisions on the footpaths were made by the Road Marking Department of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), while the list of hawkers was prepared by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). However, neither side has provided clear details on the criteria used for selection or the final allocation process.
DMP officials said only those physically present during enforcement operations were recorded for consideration. City officials, however, said they were not involved in the listing process, while police maintained that the initiative was part of a broader rehabilitation plan following eviction.
DSCC’s Chief Estate Officer Mohammod Mobasher Hasan said the listing was not handled by his department. “This is not our work; it is being done by the revenue department,” he said.
Revenue officer Atahar Ali Khan, however, denied involvement and said, “We are not preparing the list. The police are doing it. We are not aware of the allocation process.”
The relocation exercise follows a large-scale eviction campaign carried out after a change in government, aimed at clearing occupied footpaths in the capital. Similar drives have been conducted repeatedly over the years, often followed by the return of informal street vendors.
Officials said the current plan includes issuing hawker cards as part of a rehabilitation scheme. However, details about eligibility and allocation remain unclear.
Hawkers, meanwhile, have raised concerns over the process. They claim that political influence is shaping the distribution of permits.
Abu Bakar Siddique, a hawker, said many genuine vendors were being excluded. “Political activists are collecting forms and selecting people of their choice, while ordinary hawkers are being left out,” he said.
Another hawker, Raihan Uddin, said the reduction in available spaces would severely affect livelihoods. “Earlier there were around 4,000 hawkers here, but now only 1,200 will be allowed. Where will the rest go?” he asked.
He also questioned the practicality of the allocated spaces, saying they would not support diverse types of businesses.
Some residents have also expressed frustration over the plan, warning that the reallocation could recreate previous congestion. “It will be the same situation again, only this time it will be legalised congestion,” said Tamim Iqbal, a local commuter. “The gaps left between shops will not allow proper pedestrian movement.”
The issue of hawker management in Dhaka’s footpaths has long been a source of tension, with repeated eviction drives followed by informal resettlement, often amid allegations of influence, lack of coordination, and weak long-term planning.
