The Bangladesh Hawkers Union organized a rally on Thursday in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, presenting a 10-point demand that includes halting forced evictions of hawkers without rehabilitation and allocating cleared government land for their use. Union leaders said hawkers across the country, particularly in Dhaka, have faced harsh eviction drives in recent weeks, resulting in destruction of goods and loss of livelihoods.

Speakers at the rally called for immediate enactment of a livelihood protection law to safeguard hawkers’ rights. They alleged that hawkers are being subjected to daily crackdowns, extortion, and harassment, leaving thousands without income. The union urged hawkers nationwide to unite in protest to secure their demands.

Their demands include recognition of hawkers’ economic contributions, prevention of extortion, preparation of an official list of genuine hawkers, allocation of cleared government land for rehabilitation, a five-year master plan, budgetary allocation for hawkers, and fair distribution of stalls in hawkers’ markets.