Stop card trading and extortion in the name of evicting hawkers and formulate correct policies — Atiqur Rahman
Touhid Hossain :
At an exchange of views with Dhaka Metropolitan Hawkers leaders, Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation Central President Advocate Md. Atiqur Rahman demanded the formulation of correct policies by stopping the culture of card trading and extortion in the name of evicting hawkers.
He said these things as the chief guest at an exchange of views organized by Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation Shop Employees and Hawkers’ Workers’ Federation on Sunday (May 10) at 7 pm.
He said that a new culture of extortion is being encouraged in the country in the name of evicting hawkers. First, eviction drives are carried out in the name of getting rid of hawkers, and later, opportunities are given in the name of various cards and permits. Instead of solving the problem, new strategies for political influence and extortion are being created.
He further said that hawkers cannot be evicted by showing political power. If eviction is necessary, then arrangements should be made for their rehabilitation and the government should also take responsibility for running the family. Because hawkers do business every day and run their families.
Atiqur Rahman said that the lives of the common people are easier because people from different sectors of the country are engaged in their respective professions. Hawkers are also an important part of the society and economy. However, the ruling class has been harassing and using this class of people politically at different times. Although all the blame is placed on the hawkers, in reality the main problem is the lack of proper management.
He said that hawkers are not stealing or robbing; they are doing business for the sake of livelihood. The state’s responsibility is to ensure a fair and stable business environment for them.
Citing the example of Rampura Bazar, he said that due to the eviction of hawkers, the sales of fish sellers and meat traders have also decreased. Because those who used to shop in that area are no longer coming. Therefore, eviction is not a solution; rather, it creates new problems.
Demanding the government, he said that the eviction of hawkers for political reasons should be stopped. If necessary, specific time and place should be set and business opportunities should be provided under the policy. Initiatives should be taken to manage hawkers in an orderly manner by introducing modern management, including holiday markets.
The meeting was presided over by Shop Employees and Hawkers Workers Federation Central President SM Lutfur Rahman.
Also present at the time were Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation Central General Secretary Laskar Mohammad Taslim, Central Assistant General Secretary Abdus Salam, Dhaka Metropolitan South General Secretary Sohel Rana Mithu, Metropolitan North General Secretary HM Atiq, Shop Sector Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Dhaka Metropolitan North President Mohammad Abdul Mannan, South President Khizir Al Hasan, Mobile Hawkers Workers Federation President Md. Shahidul Islam and many others.
Views: 3
