In a major policy initiative designed to bring order to the capital’s chaotic pavements and roads, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is set to introduce a comprehensive registration framework for street vendors. Under the proposed Hawker Management Policy, hawkers will receive official permits to operate within designated zones and specified time slots, subject to standard municipal fees, announced DSCC Administrator Md. Abdus Salam.
Unveiling the draft policy during a stakeholder consultation at Nagar Bhaban, the administrator emphasised that the initiative seeks to strike a delicate balance between protecting the livelihoods of informal traders and safeguarding the rights of pedestrians. By regulating street commerce, the municipal authority aims to ease chronic traffic congestion and foster a safer, cleaner, and more pedestrian-friendly urban environment.
Under the proposed regulations, registered hawkers will be issued non-transferable smart identity cards fitted with barcodes and QR codes, allowing rapid verification by traffic police and municipal inspectors. Each licence will clearly specify the vendor’s approved product category, assigned pitch, stall dimensions, permitted operating hours, and monthly fee structure. Vendors wishing to alter their business type or cease operations must obtain prior municipal approval. Unauthorised expansions beyond allocated stall boundaries will carry swift penalties, including licence revocation.
Eligibility criteria dictate that applicants must be Bangladeshi citizens aged 18 or older, with registrations capped at one licence per household. DSCC aims to process applications within one month of submission, contingent on space availability. To maintain operational transparency, an updated public registry featuring vendors’ names, addresses, and trade details will be published on the DSCC website and physical noticeboards.
The financial terms outlined in the draft policy include a one-time registration fee of 5,000 BDT and an annual renewal fee of 2,500 BDT. Additionally, vendors will pay a monthly management charge of 3,000 BDT to cover municipal space usage, site maintenance, and waste collection. Crucially, the policy prohibits local syndicates from demanding illegal protection money, guaranteeing that registered vendors retain exclusive access to their assigned stalls.
Spatial regulations form a cornerstone of the new urban framework. Street vending will be permitted only on footpaths that maintain an unobstructed walking corridor of at least five to six feet for pedestrians. Vending along primary thoroughfares will be banned, with mandatory buffer zones established around metro stations, bus terminals, and busy intersections to prevent traffic bottlenecks. Stalls in residential areas will be strongly discouraged, while sports grounds, school yards, places of worship, and graveyards will remain entirely off-limits.
To expand economic opportunities safely, DSCC plans to launch weekend ‘Holiday Markets’ focusing on handicrafts and domestic goods, alongside post-business-hour ‘Night Markets’ along commercial corridors. These specialized markets will offer priority allocations to female traders and persons with disabilities. Furthermore, street food vendors will be subject to strict hygiene standards, requiring mandatory health inspections before receiving operational clearance.
During the dialogue, hawker union representatives voiced strong reservations regarding the fee structure, urging the municipal authority to reduce initial registration costs and monthly maintenance charges. Union leaders also called for structured rehabilitation plans for long-standing traders, particularly those operating across dense heritage zones in Old Dhaka and Jurain. Administrator Abdus Salam assured representatives that their grievances would be reviewed, reiterating the corporation’s commitment to delivering a humane, balanced, and sustainable solution for the city.
