Not eviction, but new management needed

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the relevant authorities to arrange alternative employment for hawkers. He issued this directive during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday afternoon.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Local Government Division, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. During the meeting, the prime minister instructed the relevant ministries and institutions to identify alternative locations swiftly through coordinated efforts. He stated that evicted hawkers must be rehabilitated in places where they can conduct their business comfortably and with confidence.

Recently, hundreds of shops were removed from the streets of Mirpur-1 under Dhaka North City Corporation, as well as from Motijheel, Baitul Mukarram, Paltan, and Gulistan under Dhaka South City Corporation. The meeting resolved that the government would provide alternative spaces for these displaced hawkers.

Notably, on 10 April, a report titled “To the Prime Minister” was published in Daily Sun, calling for a reconsideration of the decision to remove hawkers without providing alternative arrangements. The prime minister, exercising his own judgement, has taken a sensible step. Eviction is not a solution.

The country’s economic situation is already fragile. According to government estimates, there are more than 600,000 hawkers nationwide, with nearly 400,000 in Dhaka alone. Of these, only 130,000 are members of hawker associations, while the remaining 270,000 are mobile vendors. However, according to our information, the total number of hawkers across the country is no fewer than two million.

Evicting such a large number of people would leave them instantly without work. Including their families and dependants, at least 10 million people rely on this trade. Such a move would push this vast population into severe financial hardship. Moreover, hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have developed across the country because hawkers serve as the primary retailers of their products. Removing hawkers would harm, and potentially shut down, many of these businesses, creating a serious negative impact on the national economy.

The struggle for survival may drive some of these individuals towards criminal activity, leading to social instability. The prime minister’s intervention was therefore essential. He has identified a practical path forward. Rather than eviction, bringing hawkers under an organised regulatory framework, as seen in other countries, would address existing problems while increasing state revenue. Countries such as the UK, Singapore, and Thailand once faced similar challenges but opted for structured management instead of removal.

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Thailand: Bangkok was once overwhelmed by unregulated street vending, causing severe traffic congestion and affecting its tourism-dependent economy. Hawkers often paid bribes to police and local intermediaries to operate freely, which led to harassment of tourists and increased petty crime. As they were unregistered, enforcement was difficult. The government eventually introduced a registration system with a fee of 100 baht, issued identity cards, designated specific vending zones, and set operating hours. Today, Bangkok’s street markets are a major attraction, and the government generates steady revenue through monthly fees.

London: A significant challenge emerged in Whitechapel, East London, as South Asian communities expanded and many turned to street vending for their livelihood. While initial responses focused on eviction, local authorities later introduced a managed system. Today, vendors operate in an organised manner without obstructing pedestrians, and authorities collect taxes from them.

Singapore: The country’s night markets are now a major attraction for visitors, demonstrating how effective planning and regulation can transform a challenge into an economic opportunity.

In Bangladesh, hawkers remain largely overlooked. Many from marginalised backgrounds enter this line of work due to a lack of capital, yet the profession has no formal recognition. Hawkers in areas such as Gulistan report paying between Tk5,000 and Tk10,000 per week in bribes to police and local political figures. This amounts to at least Tk40,000 per month in extortion, funds that go to corrupt individuals rather than the state.

This is where government oversight is essential. If the authorities bring all hawkers under a formal registration system, a one-off fee of Tk1,000 could be introduced to establish an official database. City corporations could designate specific zones and operating hours. In return for ending extortion, the government could collect a monthly service charge of Tk5,000. Many hawkers would likely accept such a system in exchange for security and freedom from harassment.

It is important to examine who authorised the ill-advised decision to evict hawkers following the new government’s assumption of office. In line with the prime minister’s directive, a structured and modern rehabilitation initiative should now be implemented without delay, in the broader interest of Bangladesh.