Hawkers protest death of two at Gulistan
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Hawkers in the city's Gulistan area staged noisy demonstrations for hours following the death of two of their business colleagues early Friday, spelling trouble for traffic, reports bdnews24.com.
Sub-inspector Noor Jahan Begum, duty officer at Paltan Police Station, said a speeding poultry-loaded van lost its control and ran over three hawkers squatting at the roadside at around 2:30am.
Police sealed off Paltan, Bangladesh Secretariat and Gulistan areas and diverted traffic to other roads as hundreds of hawkers from other city areas streamed to Gulistan to join in the demonstrations.
The sub-inspector said the hawkers were among those who gathered there early morning in a desperate attempt to occupy the prized spots at the Friday holiday market.
Mohammed Shujan (18), son of Fazal Miah from Chandina, Comilla, died on the spot. Mohammed Riazuddin (38) from Laksam Purbopara died on way to hospital.
The other injured hawker Mohammed Jahangir was admitted to Dhaka Pongu (disabled and rehabilitated) Hospital and his condition was said to be critical.
The hawkers wore black badges to mourn the deaths of their colleagues and blocked the roads in Gulistan square to protest the incident.
Sub-inspector Noor Jahan Begum, duty officer at Paltan Police Station, said a speeding poultry-loaded van lost its control and ran over three hawkers squatting at the roadside at around 2:30am.
Police sealed off Paltan, Bangladesh Secretariat and Gulistan areas and diverted traffic to other roads as hundreds of hawkers from other city areas streamed to Gulistan to join in the demonstrations.
The sub-inspector said the hawkers were among those who gathered there early morning in a desperate attempt to occupy the prized spots at the Friday holiday market.
Mohammed Shujan (18), son of Fazal Miah from Chandina, Comilla, died on the spot. Mohammed Riazuddin (38) from Laksam Purbopara died on way to hospital.
The other injured hawker Mohammed Jahangir was admitted to Dhaka Pongu (disabled and rehabilitated) Hospital and his condition was said to be critical.
The hawkers wore black badges to mourn the deaths of their colleagues and blocked the roads in Gulistan square to protest the incident.