CHATTOGRAM, Feb 08: The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) on Thursday demolished a large number of shops and other establishments set up illegally on footpaths in New Market and Station Road areas of the port city.
The CCC conducted mobile courts led by executive magistrates in the areas to evict hawkers from the footpaths. The drive started at 10:00am and ended at around 4:00pm.
CCC Regional Executive Officer and Executive Magistrate Rezaul Karim said, "The CCC authorities conducted the eviction drive to make the footpaths free from illegal occupation."
Mr Karim further said after the eviction drive, the areas will be brought under surveillance so that none can occupy the footpaths again.
Nurul Alam Ledu, president of the Chattogram Footpath Hawker Association, said, "We have been doing business on the footpaths for 50 years. Around 5,000-6,000 hawkers' livelihood has been affected due to their eviction."
"We always demand rehabilitation of hawkers in the port city. The CCC mayor assured that the city corporation would not evict the hawkers during the meeting with the hawkers' leaders. I demand immediate rehabilitation of the evicted hawkers."
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