The authorities of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Wednesday pulled down an unspecified number of makeshift shops built illegally on footpaths in Gulistan area of the capital.
The corporation during a drive led by an executive magistrate dismantled the shops among several hundred built and occupied illegally on footpaths near Gulistan intersection.
DSCC public relations officer Abu Nasher told the FE that the eviction drive was carried out as part of the corporation's regular task.
The drive will continue not only in Gulistan but also in other areas to facilitate the smooth movement of pedestrians and vehicles on roads, he said.
Welcoming the drive, pedestrians called upon the DSCC authorities to ensure that the footpaths are made free from illegal occupation by the hawkers who mainly trade on fruits, food items, clothes and mobile phone accessories in Gulistan area.
"We could not smoothly move due to illegal encroach on footpaths by hawkers in Gulistan area," Rahim Mollah, a trader at Gulistan Shopping Mall, told the FE.
Talking to the FE, the evicted hawkers expressed frustration as they lost their means of livelihood due to the eviction.
"I used to maintain my family by selling fruits from my makeshift shop on footpath. As the authorities evicted me along with others (hawkers), I am afraid how I can now run my five-member family," Kalam Sikder, a trader, told the FE at Gulistan in the afternoon.
Keeping the footpaths permanently free from illegal occupation by hawkers in Gulistan area is a challenging task as there had been a lot of drives in the past and after some days of drives, the hawkers had reoccupied the footpaths.
Meanwhile, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), for the first time, appointed seven underprivileged individuals including two of the third gender to various posts, its Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam said on Wednesday.
The newly appointed employees also include two acid survivors, two people with special needs and the brother of a school student who was killed in a recent road accident.
The mayor made the announcement while addressing a function organised at Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in the city's Gulshan-2 area marking 'Sixteen Days of Activism', an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls, said a press release.
Six of the employees are transgender people Moinul Islam Anamika and Asif Nawaz Megha, acid survivors Nasrin Jahan and Lulu Mansura, and two people with special needs Sabina Yasmin Shilpi and Sanjida Akhter. The remaining one is Monir Hossain, brother of school student Mainuddin Islam Durjoy who was killed in a road accident in Rampura.
Speaking on the occasion, the mayor also said their employment has been a vivid example of extending support to needy people.
Stressing the need for a social movement to curb violence against women, dowry, child marriage and acid throwing, he said, "Moral education and values must be awakened in people and all men and women must be evaluated as human beings."
Five DNCC councillors were conferred special honour in recognition of their contributions to the war of liberation.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque attended the function as the chief guest. It was moderated by DNCC's Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Md. Jobaidur Rahman.
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