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Railway land at Jurain occupied by hawkers

So-called traders' associations collect Tk 10 lakh in toll a month

IMRUL HASAN
The land adjacent to railway line near Jurain level crossing in the city has long been occupied by about 650 hawkers who pay Tk 10 lakh in toll a month to two so-called traders' associations and the police.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) authorities are helpless to evict the illegal kitchen market as the vendors are blessed by the local influential leaders, sources said.
“We pay toll to Jurain Railway Small Business Association and Jurain Rail Gate New Market Cooperative Association,” said Mominul Haque, a hawker. “These associations allot place to hawkers in exchange for money,” he added.
However, Abdur Rahim, chairman of Jurain Railway Small Business Association, denied the allegation when asked about the extortion. “I'm not collecting toll anymore from the hawkers. Some other people may be involved in it,” he said.
Md Solaiman, chairman of Jurain Rail Gate New Market Cooperative Association, also denied the allegation.
The hawkers with their makeshift shops of vegetables, fruits and groceries occupy about one and a half kilometre long stretch of land from Jurain level crossing to Battala. The toll rates depend on the size of the shop. For a big size shop the associations charge Tk 40 to 50 a day. For a small shop, the rate is around Tk 20. Besides, each of the shop-owners pays Tk 3 to 5 to the police every day.
“I'm paying weekly tolls to the associations and patrol police,” said Rafique, another hawker. “Nobody can evict me as I pay the toll regularly,” he added.
Railway officials said they often conduct eviction drive to free the occupied land but the hawkers come back soon after every drive.
“The hawkers somehow get the information before every drive. They just pack up their shops and leave the scene for next two hours,” said an official.
The BR officials said they have now abandoned their idea of eviction drive due to repeated failures. “We have tried our best to evict the hawkers from the place, but failed to free the spot permanently,” said Md Nasiruddin, assistant estate officer, BR.
“We have sent letters to the higher authorities, seeking help in evicting the hawkers from the place, but there is no reply,” he said.
“Everybody knows this is illegal. But the high authorities of BR are habituated with this kind of situation. Railway cannot do anything against hawkers as they have political backing,” said stationmaster of Kamlapur Railway Station.
Md Mozammel Hossain, commissioner of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) ward number 90, said: “I have requested the railway officials and the associations several times to evict the hawkers. Persons who have leased the railway land, are collecting toll.”
When asked about the allegation that his own men are collecting monthly toll from the hawkers, he denied the allegation and said, “This is not true. If anyone can catch any of my people redhanded, I will reward him.”