Street vendors in Sidstore Bazar of Valuka upazila, Mymensingh, obstructed an eviction drive on the Mymensingh-Dhaka highway around 8 p.m. on May 17, 2026. The operation, led by Valuka Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Firoz Hossain, aimed to remove illegal structures from the area. Tension arose between the administration and vendors when the latter demanded rehabilitation before eviction. In protest, the vendors blocked the highway and set tires on fire, halting traffic for about an hour.

According to local sources, the situation escalated as heavy congestion built up on both sides of the road, causing severe inconvenience to travelers. When the situation went out of control, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer suspended the operation and left the scene. Valuka Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam later stated that the situation was brought under control through discussions with locals, and normal traffic resumed after about an hour.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding eviction drives in commercial areas where informal vendors demand prior rehabilitation before displacement.