Coordination gap during eviction drive might be behind Mirpur clash: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (30 September) said a lack of coordination among the authorities responsible for the hawker eviction drive could be behind clashes at Mirpur in the capital when a police vehicle and three city corporation vehicles were set on fire.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat on preparations for celebrating Durga Puja.

Asked whether there was prior intelligence about the city corporation's plan to conduct the eviction drive with police support, the home minister said he had ordered an investigation into the incident.

"From what I have learned initially, I have ordered an investigation. I learned that the magistrate responsible and the officials from the city corporation or Rajuk did not properly communicate with the police. I think there was a lack of coordination," he said.

He added that the matter would be investigated further.

A clash broke out between hawkers, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) officials, and police during an eviction drive at Mirpur in the capital today.

The eviction drive began around 10am from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-14 as part of the DNCC's efforts to clear footpaths and roads of illegal encroachments.

At one stage, the hawkers clashed with city corporation officials and law enforcement personnel.

A city corporation vehicle was set on fire and a police vehicle was vandalised during the clash, said witnesses.

Several media workers were also attacked allegedly by the hawkers while covering the incident.