Court Report; Dhaka – The High Court has issued a rule asking the relevant government authorities to explain why allocating spaces for hawkers on the streets and sidewalks of the capital, Dhaka, should not be declared illegal and unlawful.
Following a writ petition, a High Court bench led by Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty issued the ruling on Tuesday.
The Local Government Secretary, Law Secretary, and the administrators of Dhaka’s two city corporations, among others, have been asked to respond to the rule.
The writ petition was filed by Advocate Md. Shoebuzzaman, challenging the “Dhaka Hawker Management Policy-2026”.
The Government’s Hawker Management Policy
To bring order to hawker management, the Local Government Division recently approved a new hawker policy. Based on these guidelines, Dhaka’s two city corporations have initiated efforts to establish discipline by registering hawkers and distributing smart cards.
So far, 300 hawkers have received these cards, allowing them to operate in specific designated areas during fixed times.
The monthly or annual fees collected from them will be utilized by authorities for area development, cleanliness drives, and waste management.
Under this framework, instead of paying daily extortions of 100 to 200 BDT, registered hawkers can do business on the sidewalks by paying a official fee of 100 BDT per month or 1,000 BDT per year.
Only those registered with the city corporation will be allowed to sit in the designated zones.
List compilation and location mapping are currently underway through local police stations, with site identification already completed in Gulistan, New Market, and Mirpur-10.
Registration forms require permanent addresses, educational qualifications, and other details.
The final lists are being verified and finalized jointly by the city corporations and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), who are also co-determining the operating spots across both city corporation areas.
The Extortion Economy Exposed
According to a study by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), approximately 1,825 crore BDT is collected annually in illegal extortions from around 500,000 hawkers in the capital.
On average, each hawker has to pay 192 BDT daily, a sum that is split among police personnel and political activists.
Strict Regulations for Hawker Zones
The approved policy outlines specific rules to balance hawker livelihoods with public convenience:
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Pedestrian Space: Hawker spots will only be designated if they leave at least 5 feet of clear sidewalk space for pedestrian movement.
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Traffic Flow: To prevent traffic congestion, hawkers must stay at least 30 feet away from metro stations, bus terminals, or major intersections.
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Holiday Markets: Holiday markets will operate in certain areas on weekly and public holidays from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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Evening Markets: In commercial or crowded areas, hawkers can set up after office hours, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
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Strict Prohibitions: No hawkers will be allowed on playgrounds, school grounds, public spaces, religious compound grounds, or graveyards.
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No Permanent Structures: No permanent infrastructure can be built. Hawkers may only use umbrellas or temporary covers to shield themselves from rain or sun.
The policy warns that any violation of these rules will result in the immediate cancellation of the hawker’s registration.