Mirpur eviction drive sparks fire, clashes

Hawkers set fire to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) garbage trucks and vandalised police vehicles in Mirpur-10 on Wednesday, clashing with law enforcers during an eviction drive against illegal footpath shops. 
Eight to nine police officers were injured and about 30 people detained, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said a lack of coordination among the authorities involved could be behind the violence.
The DNCC began clearing footpaths around the Mirpur-10 roundabout at about 9:30am, police said. 
A fire broke out as a city corporation roller demolished shops in the Hope Market area, reportedly from an electrical short circuit, according to witnesses. It gutted five to six clothing, footwear and cosmetics shops beneath the Baitul Kuddus Jame Mosque, next to Mirpur Ideal School. Three fire service units responded. Some traders then attacked and vandalised city corporation vehicles. 
By about 11:45am, a group had gathered in front of Mirpur Ideal College, while police took positions around the roundabout. 
Police fired tear gas, and the traders responded by throwing bricks and stones.
Police, city corporation officials and witnesses said many hawkers were armed with sticks, threw brick chips and chased the law enforcers, who fired rubber bullets and charged batons to disperse them. Eyewitnesses said the hawkers outnumbered the police, who were seen retreating at times.
According to police, at least three DNCC garbage trucks were burned, and one more truck, a police vehicle and an excavator were vandalised. The rear windshield of a private television channel's broadcast vehicle was smashed, and journalists covering the events were allegedly harassed by some hawkers.
The drive was suspended amid the clash and later resumed. After 2pm, about 50 more shops were removed, according to local sources, and the operation continued till about 4pm with extra officers deployed.
Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammad Naser Rikabdar confirmed the incident. 
Assistant Commissioner of the Mirpur zone Abul Basar Molla said about 30 people had been detained, a figure that could change, with an exact number to follow once the operation ended. 
He said police had no information on any injured journalists.
“We want to make the footpaths completely free of hawkers,” he said, adding, “Under the joint initiative with the city corporation, no one will be allowed to set up here again in the future.” 
He said cases would be filed over the attacks on police.
DNCC Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton said police and the corporation would file separate cases over the obstruction and attacks, and those responsible would be arrested after investigation. He said the clearance programme would continue. 
“Today has proved that the general public of Mirpur want footpaths free of encroachment,” he said. 
He warned that anyone encouraging reoccupation would face legal action.
Speaking at the Secretariat, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said preliminary information suggested a lack of coordination between the magistrate in charge and police. 
“The responsible magistrate did not communicate properly with police,” he said, adding that an investigation had been ordered. 
He said the government was working to ensure public safety and social peace.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman, the local MP, visited the site on Wednesday. 
He said involving local MPs before the major drive could have helped reach a peaceful solution, and urged the government to involve elected representatives in future public welfare initiatives to secure public support and cooperation and prevent disorder and violence.
In a Facebook post at about 2:30pm, he said he was “surprised” the action was taken without informing him. 
“I also have responsibility in this matter and could have been involved,” he said. “A better and effective way could have been found through mutual consultation.”
Locals allege that hawkers have long occupied large stretches of Mirpur's footpaths with the patronage of some local political activists and “terrorists”. 
The illegal structures generate large daily cash flows for influential local figures, and evicted hawkers are often back on the pavement within hours or days. 
The DNCC has tried several times to clear the footpaths, but earlier drives failed.
Khaleq Mia, a local small businessman, said hawkers had illegally occupied a significant portion of the footpaths and roads in Mirpur, inconveniencing pedestrians and commuters.

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