Dhaka Mar 14 – The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to take necessary steps for the rehabilitation of hawkers.An HC bench comprising Justice M Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan passed the order after primarily hearing a petition filed by Bangladesh Sinnomul Hawkers Samity president Kamal Siddiqui.
Secretaries of LGRD, Labour and Home, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor and assistant chief of the National Economic Council (NEC) were asked to respond to the rule with four weeks.
Barrister Sarowat Siraj argued for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju represented the state.
On April 4, 2016, the government asked the authorities concerned to rehabilitate the hawkers by setting up weekly markets in selected areas of Dhaka for a certain period in weekly holidays and it also asked the Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to construct multistoried hawker markets for rehabilitating the hawkers permanently.
On March 13 last, Bangladesh Sinnomul Hawkers Samity president Kamal Siddiqui filed the writ petition as the DSCC conducted a hawker eviction drive by not implementing the government‘s decision. – UNB
