LIE organized press conference, demonstration and red card show of street vendors for national policy and law
Labour at Informal Economy (LIE) organized press conference, demonstration and red card shor of street vendors for national policy and law in Dhaka and different areas around the country in different dates. It is reported unofficially by several hawker association that around 50 lakh street vendors play their business on the capital cities’ public sidewalks in recent years which has resulted an emergence of new avenue for urban poor to support themselves and their families.
As a consequence of rapid urbanization, inadequate opportunities of formal work place and perpetually increasing population of Dhaka city, compels unskilled people to engage themselves in street trading which entails small capital to start and there are low barriers to entry and flexible work hour. They are not protected by the existing social safety-nets of the government. On the other hand, government evicts hawkers without taking any step to rehabilitate them somewhere else. There is law for evicting hawkers from street side.
Labour at Informal Economy (LIE) works for rights and policy reformation for the street vendor of Bangladesh. With the above-mentioned consequences, Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parishad and Labour at Informal Economy (LIE) initiated for a press conference, demonstration and red card show campaign” in demanding national policy and law for the street vendor to uphold their demand to the government.On 12 February 2023, LIE organized a press conference in collaboration with Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parishad at Sagor-Runi Hall, Dhaka Reporters Unity for declaring the demand and schedule for the demonstration and showing red card. In the press conference LIE and Hawker Sangram Parishad jointly announced that on 18 February 2023, they will jointly organize red card show campaign in Mirpur, Dhaka and different places around the country for instance, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Cox’s Bazar and Khulna for demanding national policy and law for the street vendors of Bangladesh.
Kamal Siddiki, Vice-Chariperson, Labour at Informal Economy read the written statement at the press conference where Abul Hossain, president of Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parisad; Harun Or Rashid Generat Secretary, Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parisad; Farida Khanam, National Programme Coordinator, Labour at Informal Economy; and Sekender Hayat, Central General Secretary, Bangladesh Hawkers Union and the leaders of Hawker Sangram Parishad were present in the conference and also addressed the challenges and demand for the hawkers.
On 18 February 2023, LIE and Bangladesh Hawkers Union jointly organized red card show event simultaneously in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Cox’s Bazar and Khulna for the demand of national policy and legislation for hawkers to protect the interest of street vendors.
In Dhaka LIE and Bangladesh Hawkers Union organized a demonstration and showed red cards at Mirpur- 10 on 18 February, 2023. Kamal Siddiki, Vice-Chariperson, Labour at Informal Economy; Abul Hossain, president of Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parisad; Harun Or Rashid Generat Secretary, Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parisad; Farida Khanam, National Programme Coordinator, Labour at Informal Economy and Sekender Hayat, Central General Secretary, Bangladesh Hawkers Union were present in the event and raise voice for the demands of street vendor.
Abul Hossain, President, Bangladesh Hawker Sangram Parishad said, “More than 50 lakh people are directly or indirectly making a living in Bangladesh by this profession. Like the government, we also want the hawkers to work within a framework.” LIE Vice Chairperson Kamal Siddiki said, “Hawkers play an important role in the lives of low-income people of the country. Every year 59.4 percent of people migrate from villages to Dhaka and Chattogram to fight poverty and earn money. Many small and medium industries have survived through their work. Hawkers have also contributed to curbing the country’s black market, hoarders and profiteers to increase the prices of goods.”
After the demonstration the street vendors showed red cards for the demand of national policy and legislation for the hawkers to protect the interest of street vendors. In the events, the hawker leaders raised six demands for the betterment of street vendors:
- A national policy and laws should be formulated to rehabilitate hawkers and street vendors.
- The occupation of hawkers and street vendors should be recognized as “economic work.”
- Social protection programs for hawkers and street vendors should be ensured.
- Street vendors should come under universal pension benefits.
- Street vendors should not be evicted without rehabilitation.
