Dhaka streets have supposedly become plagued by hawkers. The government has taken initiatives to allow hawkers to operate in allotted spaces following eviction drives. But some people cannot seem to stand this idea.
There are even campaigns that claim the removal of hawkers could save Dhaka.
“Save Dhaka, remove hawkers,” they say, and it seems to be resonating with quite a few. These saviours of Dhaka are seen standing with banners at Shahbagh, objecting to the government's decision to give licences to hawkers.
Considering that street hawkers have taken up our walking spaces, it is not unfair to demand that footpaths be freed up. Dhaka is a nightmare for pedestrians. The Gulistan area, in particular, used to be abuzz with street vendors, making it practically impossible for any sort of casual stroll.
What is not fair is the proposed solution. In most cases, actually resolving a situation like this is quite difficult. Making a scapegoat out of the destitute and underprivileged is rather easy. Booting them is even easier.
The resounding support on social media shows that the campaign to evict hawkers sits well with a lot of Dhaka residents. Most of them do not take a moment to consider why the hawkers are setting up shops on the streets in the first place. It’s easy to ignore the root of problems and instead, jump to an easy solution.
One cannot quite blame them. Siding with power, showing disdain towards those who are systematically deprived of access to resources, gives many a false sense of superiority. A superiority that causes the delusion of knowing what's best for everyone. Hence the words, "save Dhaka". Despite its myriad problems, Dhaka’s biggest one seems to be just the hawkers.
We rarely stop to consider why hawkers remain so popular despite the congestion and disorder they are often blamed for. For many Dhaka residents, shopping at superstores is simply unaffordable. Have we created enough market spaces that are affordable for the people who depend on hawkers for their needs?
Campaigners argue that hawkers should be relocated to designated market spaces. On the surface, this appears to be a fair demand. Unfortunately, it lacks deeper reflection and analysis.
Market spaces are often plagued by extortion. Many hawkers earn only a small profit from their sales and can barely afford the spaces they currently occupy. Moreover, hawkers sell primarily to pedestrians, who buy from them precisely because they are on the pavement. This location gives hawkers their competitive edge -- an advantage they would likely lose if moved into formal markets.
While making demands and passing judgement, we often fail to consider that these people do not come to an unlivable city on a whim. A city ranked 173rd out of 175 in the Global Liveability Index can hardly offer even the illusion of a better life. Administrators and planners have done little to implement meaningful decentralisation.
According to the WHO, 7.1 million people in Bangladesh were displaced by climate-related disasters in 2022, a figure projected to rise to 13.3 million by 2050.
This year’s rain hasn’t been kind to the farmers either. The agricultural extension department shows that between March 31 and April 5, over 9,500 farmers suffered losses and crops on 1,724 hectares across six districts were destroyed. The estimated loss is projected to be around Tk 36.36 crore.
And yet, we ask why so many people occupy Dhaka’s streets to earn a living. As if standing under the punishing sun, shouting and bargaining all day, is somehow a matter of choice or pleasure.
After the prime minister’s urge for faster rehabilitation of hawkers, DSCC and DNCC have rolled out the Dhaka City Hawker Management Policy-2026, with QR-code-enabled digital IDs and allotted locations to operate within specified hours. The plan may be scrutinised and modified. But it is moving in the right direction to address the situation.
The government may take steps to improve the situation. But the mindset behind it, the erosion of our empathy, and the intensifying class divide will not change overnight. Dhaka’s streets need to be decluttered, and its walking spaces must be reclaimed. But this has to be done through a well-structured livelihood plan for hawkers.
