The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of National Hawkers Alliance Council urged the Caretaker Government not to evict hawkers from the city pavements without a permanent rehabilitation plan.

They demanded arrest of toll collectors, who are engaged in extortion in the city streets in the name of giving hawkers allocation of spots.

This was urged at a press conference organised by hawkers' alliance at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Kamal Siddiki, Convener of the alliance council, chaired the conference, while MA Kashem, member secretary of the association, read out a written statement.

Leaders of the association said Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) gave permission to hawkers to open shops in 20 spots out of 200 in the city. In some places, 'linemen' are collecting tolls from the hawkers for handing over the places there.

The hawkers, who have been evicted from the city streets, are passing inhuman life now, they said.

They strongly urged the government to take action against the toll collectors, who are collecting tolls, and give them proper punishment.