Hawkers from January 15 will not be allowed to sit with their goods in Gulistan and adjacent areas during working hours as Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has decided to free the roads and footpaths of obstacles for safe passage of pedestrians.

The only instance they can run businesses on workdays will be from 6:30pm onwards and at selected spots, said DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon at a meeting with leaders of hawkers' associations at his Nagar Bhaban office in the capital.

They will also be allowed at particular spots all day every Friday, bringing into practice “Holiday Markets”, he said, adding that on Saturdays, they would be permitted in areas where offices and markets remain closed.

DSCC with assistance of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will take action against those violating the decisions, he said.

On rehabilitation, he said, “We have already made a list of 2,500 hawkers in Gulistan area and soon they will be given particular identity cards.” DSCC will support those among them interested in changing their profession or in going abroad, he added.

He assured to take legal steps against “linemen” who “extort” the hawkers. He said to have collected a list of the “linemen” and asked DMP to take steps against them.

The hassles faced while walking in the area and of traffic congestion will be solved with DSCC's new steps and the hawkers will face no adverse effect, said DSCC Chief Executive Officer Khan Mohammad Bilal.

Welcoming the steps, the leaders urged the mayor to provide the ID cards as soon as possible and expedite the rehabilitation process.

MA Kashem, president of Bangladesh Hawkers Federation, said the hawkers would be interested in getting involved in the process if DSCC organises a motivational seminar.

“We will feel relieved if the city corporation takes action against the linemen,” he said.

Asif Chowdhury, president of Jatiyo Hawkers Federation, suggested that the authorities concerned form a certain policy for hawkers to control their numbers and follow a systematic method.

He gave an example, stating that the city corporation may allow registered hawkers in a certain area for a specific period which would aid the rehabilitation process.

Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan, joint secretary at the home affairs ministry; Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, joint police commissioner (traffic-south) of DMP; and Farid Uddin Ahammed Ratan, commissioner of ward-20 of DSCC, also spoke.