Hope Market in Mirpur-10 Is Gone, But What About the People?

The Hope Market area in Mirpur 10 has changed a lot. The footpaths are clear, people have more space to walk, the streets look better, and traffic jams are gone. I appreciate the government's initiative to clear the roads and footpaths. A city should have space for people to walk, not just space for hawkers.

But what will happen to the people who earned their living here?

Many traders depended on their small stalls for daily income. They needed that money to buy food for their families, pay their children's school fees, cover rent, and manage other daily expenses. For some, this may have been their only source of income.

But now their stalls are gone; have we ever thought about how they will manage these expenses?

Yeah, my concern here is about the people whose lives depend on those small businesses.

The government has taken some initiative to relocate hawkers. According to a UNB report published on September 30, 2026, the DNCC administrator said that “204 registration cards had been issued to hawkers to help them trade at alternative locations." An earlier report by Views Bangladesh, published on April 30, 2026, said that “around 200 hawkers had been relocated during the initial phase of a rehabilitation initiative." The DNCC administrator also spoke about plans for a permanent hawkers' market.

These initiatives are great. But issuing registration cards and relocating hawkers do not necessarily mean that every trader affected by the latest eviction has found a suitable place to continue their business.

Some important questions remain.

How many traders were affected by the September eviction drive? How many have started working at alternative locations? Has the proposed permanent hawkers market received official approval? What will happen to those who still have no suitable place to sell their goods?

The available reports do not answer all these questions clearly. I believe rehabilitation should receive as much attention as eviction.

I am not against clearing the footpaths and roads. In fact, I appreciate the results. But what if the government provided proper trading spaces near the area and asked hawkers to operate there under clear rules? Before clearing the roads and footpaths, shouldn't the authorities have relocated and organized the stalls according to the types of goods being sold?

Such a plan would need proper management. Not every trader may find the new location suitable, and some businesses may struggle with customer shortages. That is why the authorities should ensure the relocation of the traders before making decisions about their future.

If the government can provide suitable alternative spaces, people can enjoy clear footpaths while traders can continue to earn money for their families. Then we could have wider roads, cleaner streets, and more organized markets at the same time.

Of course, this would require planning and cooperation from both the authorities and the traders. But shouldn't that be part of the process?

It’s a person's livelihood that matters. When someone loses the only path of earning money, the effects can affect the whole family. Food, children's education, house rent, and other basic needs all come into question.

Development should improve people's lives. Clear roads and open footpaths are important, but it is also important to ensure that ordinary people earn enough to live with dignity when development happens.

I believe we can have both. We can keep the streets clean and provide organized places for hawkers to do business. We can protect people’s right to walk freely while giving traders a fixed and designated place to continue earning their living. The two goals need to be given equal importance.

I appreciate the government's efforts to make Mirpur 10 cleaner and easier to walk. I also hope the authorities will clearly explain their rehabilitation plans and make sure that affected traders have access to suitable and better alternatives.

My question is simple: Can we build a beautiful city without leaving its small traders or hawkers behind?

I believe we can. A better Bangladesh should mean cleaner streets and better roads, with smiles, not with sorrow or tears.