Iqbal Habib speaks to DOT :
Obaidul Quader is a powerful minister. Since he promised he will free roads and highways from illegal establishments in a week, I am hopeful. Most of the vendors who occupy roads and highways are living on a day-to-day basis, struggling to make ends meet. Even though hawkers have no relation with the footpath, they do have a special connection with pedestrians. They use whatever they earn here to run their families. They’ll become jobless if they’re uprooted. This is as big of an issue for their families as it is for them. And that is why there should be appropriate measures to rehabilitate them first. The unemployment rate in our country is already very high. This rate will only increase if hawkers and vendors are displaced from footpaths. Therefore a comprehensive solution is needed. My hope is they will be properly relocated and rehabilitated first. Nevertheless, it is also equally important to commence Obaidul Quader’s directive.
We know that those who currently occupy roads and highways have no ulterior motive. Hawkers run a small business. Some simply work there; it’s their occupation. The ones who are behind this have to be identified. We can also work together with the occupiers. They have to pledge that they will occupy no further. Law enforcement, local political leaders or influential personalities are behind it all. So any initiative has to take them into account as well. Still, the drive to remove occupiers should commence immediately.
Footpaths being occupied lead to pedestrians using the road instead – this can lead to accidents.
Iqbal Habib is an architect
Interview by Khairul Alam
Translation by Abrar Hussain