96 jailed, Tk11.56 lakh fined in DMP’s 5-day spl drive

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has vowed to keep roads and footpaths free of hawkers and announced continued follow-up measures after a five-day eviction drive ended on Sunday.
During the drive from 1 to 5 April, conducted through DMP mobile courts in coordination with the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), authorities fined Tk11.56 lakh, jailed 96 individuals and evicted several hundred makeshift shops.
Speaking to the Daily Sun on Sunday evening, DMP Deputy Commissioner and spokesperson NM Nasiruddin said, “We conducted drives in Dholipar, Wari, Banglamotor, Mirpur, Tejgaon, Shyamoli and Uttara. Roads and footpaths have been cleared. Now we will follow up to ensure these areas are not reoccupied by vendors.”
He then said, “We will not extend the eviction drive to new areas until we can ensure sustainable and visible results in the areas already covered.”
On 24 March, a high-level meeting led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reviewed Dhaka’s traffic situation and decided on several short- and mid-term measures, including freeing roads and footpaths from hawkers and relocating inter-district bus terminals and their counters from the capital’s core areas.
At the meeting, representatives of the DMP and the two city corporations assured the prime minister that visible progress would be achieved by implementing short-term measures, including eviction of illegal occupiers, by 7 April.
As part of these measures, the DMP has been conducting the ongoing drive.
According to DMP press releases, operations were carried out on 1, 2, 4 and 5 April across different areas of the city to remove illegal encroachments from roads and footpaths. Law enforcers conducted evictions, filed multiple cases, seized illegal goods and arrested or penalised offenders based on the nature of their offences.
On 1 April, drives were conducted across all eight divisions. In Lalbagh, 13 people were arrested in the Goyalghat–Narinda area, while in Wari, seven traders were fined Tk15,000 from Dholaipar to Jatrabari.
In the Ramna division, a mobile court in Moghbazar and Banglamotor filed 59 traffic cases, imposed Tk15,000 in fines and seized three pickup vans of goods. In Mirpur, six traders were fined Tk65,000 in Kazipara, Shewrapara and Bhashantek, while in Motijheel, 10 people were arrested and Tk70,000 realised in fines from Nightingale intersection to Fakirapool.
Tejgaon division carried out eviction activities in Indira Road. In Gulshan, around 50 shops were warned and Tk27,000 was fined, while in Uttara, encroaching shopkeepers were verbally warned.
On 2 April, drives continued across several divisions. In Lalbagh, 13 traders were fined Tk6,000, while in Wari, 13 traders were fined Tk22,500 from Jatrabari to Signboard. In Ramna, 68 cases were filed, Tk22,500 realised in fines and four pickup vans of goods were seized in areas including Dhaka Medical and Bangabazar. In Mirpur, 16 cases resulted in Tk55,000 in fines.
On 4 April, a mobile court in Motijheel division fined illegal occupiers Tk1.46 lakh in the Malibagh Railgate and Rampura Bridge areas. In Wari, 16 traders were fined Tk31,500, while in Ramna, 39 cases were filed with Tk62,000 in fines. Arrests were also made in Lalbagh, Mirpur and Uttara.
On 5 April, operations continued with significant outcomes. In Ramna, 67 cases were filed and Tk82,000 in fines realised from New Market to Dhaka College. In Mirpur, Tk80,000 was collected from 17 shops, while in Wari, 11 traders were fined Tk47,500. Arrests were reported in Lalbagh, Motijheel and Uttara.
Contacted, Md Hadiuzzaman, former director of the Accident Research Institute at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), told the Daily Sun, “The problem is as much technical as it is social. However, the initiative taken by DMP this time is quite different and strategic. Instead of relying solely on sudden, forceful evictions, the DMP has adopted a balanced approach.” 
He then said, “As the DMP’s tactics are new and unique, we have to wait for the results.”