Dhaka – At least 20 people, including Deputy Commissioner of DMP (Motijheel Division) Anwar Hossain, were injured in a clash between hawkers and traders at Gulistan in the city on Friday afternoon.
Police arrested around 150 people from the spot in connection with the incident.Sources said when evicted hawkers tried to take position on the footpath again traders of Gulistan Trade Centre tried to resist them, triggering a clash at around 12:00 pm that left 20 people injured.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, a clash took place between hawkers and traders when Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka Metropolitan Police conducted a drive against footpath-based hawkers in Gulistan area. One police member was injured in the clash.
Additional police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control charging batons and lobbing tear gas shells at around 2:00 pm.
Among the injured, six people, including DC (Motijheel) Anwar Hossain, were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Other five injured people–Md Billal, Nazrul, Babul, Tareq, and Mizanur are undergoing treatment in the hospital.
DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia visited the spot after Jummah prayers.
Talking to reporters on the spot, he said action will be taken against the hawkers involved in the clash. The streets and footpaths of Gulistan area were occupied by hawkers. DMP and the Dhaka South City Corporation carried out eviction drive on Thursday for the interest of smooth movement of the city dwellers, he said.
If they (Hawkers) try to create chaos, we will taken kegal action against them, the DMP Commissioner said.
A Sub-Inspector of Paltan police station said around 150 people were detained from the spot during the clash. They have been shown arrested in a police assault case filed with the police station on Thursday night in connection with the clash, ensued during the drive jointly conducted by DMP and DSCC, he said. – News Desk
