The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers here today demanded enactment of hawkers friendly laws for, what they said, stop indiscriminate eviction of the poor traders who are surviving hand to mouth in these days of economic hardships.

"In the absence of any pro-hawkers laws in the country, the real hawkers could not be properly rehabilitated, " they said.

They also called upon the authorities not to evict them without making any alternative sources of their livelihoods for the shake of justice.

They were speaking at the annual meeting and installation ceremony of Bangladesh Launchghat Hawkers Kallayan Samity at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium.

Jatiya Samjtantrick Dal (JSD) president Hasanul Haq Inu attended the function as chief guest while former information secretary and noted journalist-columnit Bahauddin Chowdhury , historian Sirajuddin Ahmed, journalist Azizul Islam Bhuiyan and Advocate Khandkar Shamsul Alam Dudu were the special guests.

Presided over by Samity President Abdus Salam Khokan, the function was also addressed, among others, by labour leader Kazi Siddiqur Rahman, youth leader Abdul Jalil, Samity general secretary Masum Howladar and joint secretary Abdul Halim Chowdhuyr Mizan.

In his speech Hasanul Haq Inu called for formulation of a national policy for the hawkers, rickshaw pullers and small traders of the city. "Before preparation of such a national policy, Dhaka City Corporation should prepare a full list of genuine hawkers, rickshaw pullers and small traders, especially the footpath dealers, " he said.

Inu said that it was unfortunate that the footpath hawkers had to be the first targets of any regime change as there was an ill practice to rehabilitate party-supporters in such trades removing the genuine ones.

Samity leaders demanded allotments of shops in the newly built building to the genuine members of the Samity. Expressing their indignation over reported allotments of such shops among, what they said "fake hawkers', they called upon the authorities to immediately cancel those "controversial allotments."

The Samity also announced a month-long programme including holding of press conference on February 10, formation of human chain in front of the head office of the BIWTA on February 20, submission of memorandum to anti-corruption commission on February 25 and handing over another memorandum to Shipping adviser on February 28 to press home their demands.