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Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is set to implement a new registration-based system for hawkers within two weeks. The initiative aims to regulate their businesses by assigning designated areas and fixed operating hours, while ensuring main roads remain clear for traffic and pedestrians. DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam stated the goal is to allow hawkers to continue their livelihoods without causing public disruption.

The structured system will only permit registered hawkers to operate in specific locations, with numbers determined by available space. Registration will be area-specific, preventing hawkers from moving between different zones. The DSCC plans to consult with hawker leaders and police to determine capacity in commercial hubs like New Market and Gulistan. While regular roads will be off-limits, wider footpaths or suitable spaces may accommodate a limited number of registered hawkers.

To support those who cannot be accommodated in designated areas, the DSCC is considering holiday and night markets. Under the proposed Hawker Management Policy for Dhaka City-2026, holiday markets could operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Night markets in commercial areas are planned from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Playgrounds, open fields, places of worship, and cemeteries will be excluded from these markets.

The policy outlines a one-time registration fee of Tk 5,000, with an annual renewal cost of Tk 2,500. Additionally, a monthly fee of Tk 3,000 will cover space use and waste management. Administrator Salam warned hawkers against paying exorbitant fees to shopkeepers or influential individuals for vending spots, noting some shopkeepers charge up to Tk 15,000. Hawker associations will be tasked with maintaining order and preventing unauthorized vending.

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We want hawkers to continue their businesses, but we also have to protect the public from the problems caused by unregulated hawking.