Clashes, arson, and vandalism broke out between hawkers and law enforcement during a sidewalk eviction drive conducted by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at the Mirpur-10 Circle area in the capital, leaving several police officers and journalists injured.
The incident occurred around 9:30 AM on Wednesday when the DNCC and police jointly launched a drive to clear illegal encroachments from the footpaths around the Mirpur-10 Circle area.
At one point during the operation, angry hawkers organized themselves and launched an attack on the law enforcement personnel and City Corporation representatives, leading to chases and counter-chases between the two groups.
During the eviction, three DNCC garbage trucks were completely gutted after hawkers set them on fire. The hawkers also vandalized a City Corporation excavator (veku) and a police vehicle.
According to eyewitnesses, the sudden attack and rampage by the hawkers on the main road and footpaths triggered widespread panic in the area. Several police officers on duty and journalists covering the event sustained physical injuries in the sudden attack.
Upon receiving the information, two fire service units rushed to the spot and worked to bring the fire on the damaged City Corporation vehicles under control.
Although the situation calmed down slightly around 12:00 PM, the violent hawkers gathered and took position in front of Mirpur Ideal College. Meanwhile, police took up a strong position at the Mirpur-10 Circle area to prevent any further untoward incidents and maintain control over the situation.
Confirming the incident, Duty Officer of Mirpur Model Police Station, Md. Shahidul Islam, said, “In the morning, the North City Corporation went to demolish illegal shops on the footpaths at Mirpur-10, accompanied by police. At one point, the enraged hawkers set fire to three City Corporation garbage trucks and vandalized an excavator and a police car.”
