The street vending sector plays a crucial role in the economy of Dhaka, providing employment and affordable goods to a large population. However, street vendors in Dhaka face numerous socio-economic challenges, including low income, long working hours, and limited access to basic services. These challenges are primarily caused by harassment by local authorities, health and safety risks, and limited legal protection. This empirical investigation aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka and identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation. The investigation used a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions, to collect data from street vendors, local authorities, and other stakeholders. The study also reviewed existing literature on street vending and related policies in Dhaka and other similar contexts. The investigation found that street vendors in Dhaka earn a meagre income, work long hours, and lack access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and healthcare. Furthermore, street vendors face numerous challenges, including harassment by local authorities, health and safety risks, and limited legal protection. These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a decline in sales and income for many street vendors. The investigation also identified sustainable alternatives for street vending in Dhaka, such as the establishment of designated vending zones, providing basic services to vendors, and promoting formalization and organization of the street vending sector. These alternatives can provide better working and living conditions for the vendors and promote a more organized and formal sector. Finally, the investigation provided policy recommendations to local authorities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to improve the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka and promote a sustainable street vending sector. These recommendations include the establishment of a formal legal framework for street vending, providing access to basic services, and creating designated vending zones. The implementation of these policy recommendations can have a positive impact on the livelihoods of street vendors and the economy of Dhaka.

1. Assessing the socio-economic
opportunity for street vendors in
Dhaka: An empirical investigation to
identify sustainable alternatives for
their occupation
Group:03 5/15/23 MGT6403

2. Assessing the socio-economic opportunity for
street vendors in Dhaka: An empirical
investigation to identify sustainable
alternatives for their occupation
Course Name : Strategic Management
Course Code : MGT6403
Group: 03
Name ID
Md. Asifur Rahaman 2123021023
Md. Shariful Islam 2123021029
Md. Muniruzzaman 2123021043
Jahid Khan Rahat 2123021047
Md. Shahajalal Mia 2123021049
Prepared by:
Submitted to:
Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman
Professor
Department of Business Administration in Management Studies
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)
Submission Date: 15th May, 2023

3. Letter of Transmittal
18th
April 2023
Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman
Professor
Department of Business Administration in Management Studies, FBS
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)
Subject: Submission of the Term paper on “Assessing the socio-economic opportunity for
street vendors in Dhaka: An empirical investigation to identify sustainable alternatives
for their occupation”.
Dear Sir,
It is a great pleasure and privilege to present the Term paper on “Assessing the socio-economic
opportunity for street vendors in Dhaka: An empirical investigation to identify sustainable
alternatives for their occupation” which was assigned to us as a partial requirement for the
completion of Strategic Management course. Throughout the study we tried with the best of
our capacity to accommodate as much information and relevant issues as possible and tried to
follow the instructions as you have suggested. We tried our best to make this report as much
informative as possible. We sincerely believe that it will satisfy your requirements. However,
we sincerely believe that this report will serve the purpose of our term paper.
We, therefore, pray and hope that you would kindly accept our term paper and oblige thereby.
With thanks, and best regards.
Sincerely Yours,
Md. Asifur Rahaman …………………………. Md. Sahajalal …………………
Md. Muniruzzaman …………………………. Md. Shariful Islam …………………
Jahid Khan Rahat ………………………….

4. Acknowledgement
We are thankful and pay our deep gratitude towards the almighty Allah at the beginning
because without the blessing we wouldn’t have been this fortunate to finish this term paper.
There are a lot of people whom we have to thank too. First of all, our cordial thanks go to Dr.
Md. Arifur Rahman Sir as our course instructor to provide us this great opportunity to work in
this term paper and giving us the such privilege to learn thereby. Secondly, we are thankful to
the supportive and cooperative groupmate for their effort to make this term paper effectively
and efficiently.

5. Executive Summary
The street vending sector plays a crucial role in the economy of Dhaka, providing employment
and affordable goods to a large population. However, street vendors in Dhaka face numerous
socio-economic challenges, including low income, long working hours, and limited access to
basic services. These challenges are primarily caused by harassment by local authorities, health
and safety risks, and limited legal protection.
This empirical investigation aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic
conditions of street vendors in Dhaka and identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation.
The investigation used a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and focus
group discussions, to collect data from street vendors, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
The study also reviewed existing literature on street vending and related policies in Dhaka and
other similar contexts.
The investigation found that street vendors in Dhaka earn a meagre income, work long hours,
and lack access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and healthcare. Furthermore, street
vendors face numerous challenges, including harassment by local authorities, health and safety
risks, and limited legal protection. These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic, which has led to a decline in sales and income for many street vendors.
The investigation also identified sustainable alternatives for street vending in Dhaka, such as
the establishment of designated vending zones, providing basic services to vendors, and
promoting formalization and organization of the street vending sector. These alternatives can
provide better working and living conditions for the vendors and promote a more organized
and formal sector.
Finally, the investigation provided policy recommendations to local authorities, government
agencies, and other stakeholders to improve the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in
Dhaka and promote a sustainable street vending sector. These recommendations include the
establishment of a formal legal framework for street vending, providing access to basic
services, and creating designated vending zones. The implementation of these policy
recommendations can have a positive impact on the livelihoods of street vendors and the
economy of Dhaka.
Keywords: Street Vendors, Socio-economic condition of street vendors, Alternative sources
of livelihood for street vendors

6. Contents
1.0 Background.................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the Problem........................................................................................................2
1.3 Scope of the Report.................................................................................................................2
1.4 Objective of the Study.............................................................................................................3
1.4.1 Primary Objective:...........................................................................................................3
1.4.2 Specific objectives:..........................................................................................................3
1.5 Research Questions.................................................................................................................4
1.6 Research Gap ..........................................................................................................................4
1.7 Research Methodology ...........................................................................................................5
1.7.1 Research Design..............................................................................................................5
2.0 Review of Literature....................................................................................................................6
2.1 Street vendors..........................................................................................................................6
2.2 Socio-Economic Condition.....................................................................................................7
2.3 Psychological Condition .........................................................................................................7
3.0 Conceptual framework ...............................................................................................................7
4.0 Hypothesis...................................................................................................................................8
5.0 Analysis .......................................................................................................................................8
5.1 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STREET VENDORS.............................................8
5.2 ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HAWKER ...........................................................10
5.2.1 Sources of Capital..........................................................................................................11
5.2.2 Income ..........................................................................................................................11
5.2.3 Time schedule of Business ............................................................................................13
5.2.4 Rent and other Payments Made by Hawkers for their Business ..................................13
5.0 Limitations of the study ............................................................................................................14
6.0 Findings .....................................................................................................................................15
7.0 Challenges.................................................................................................................................16
8.0 Recommendations....................................................................................................................17
9.0 Conclusion:................................................................................................................................18
10.0 References ................................................................................................................................19

7. Page | 1
1.0 Background
As a part of our course, we have prepared this preparation. This report was given by our course
tutor Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Professor, as a report to be submitted on 15 May 2023. We
have prepared a detailed analysis of our assigned topic– “Assessing the socio-economic
opportunity for street vendors in Dhaka: An empirical investigation to identify sustainable
alternatives for their occupation” We have provided their sincerity and serious effort to prepare
this term paper. In this report, we mainly try to find out sustainable alternatives occupation for
the street vendors.
1.1 Introduction
The street vending industry is a significant source of livelihood for millions of people
worldwide, particularly in developing countries where employment opportunities are limited.
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is no exception, where a large number of people engage
in street vending as their primary occupation.
However, street vendors in Dhaka face several challenges, including harassment from local
authorities, limited access to basic services, and a lack of legal protection. These challenges
not only affect the livelihoods of the vendors but also hinder the growth and development of
the city's economy.
In this context, this empirical investigation aims to assess the socio-economic opportunity for
street vendors in Dhaka. The study will identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation
and suggest policy recommendations for improving their living and working conditions.
The investigation will use a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and focus
group discussions, to collect data from street vendors, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
The study will also review existing literature on street vending and related policies in Dhaka
and other similar contexts.

8. Page | 2
The findings of this investigation will contribute to a better understanding of the socio-
economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka and help develop sustainable policies and
interventions for their livelihoods.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The street vending industry in Dhaka provides a significant source of livelihood for a large
number of people, especially those who lack formal education and employment opportunities.
However, street vendors in Dhaka face several challenges that affect their livelihoods,
including harassment by local authorities, limited access to basic services, and a lack of legal
protection.
These challenges not only impact the vendors but also hinder the growth and development of
the city's economy. The lack of proper regulations and policies for street vending has led to an
unorganized and informal sector, which often operates in unsanitary and hazardous conditions.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the street vending industry, with
vendors facing reduced income, health risks, and further harassment by authorities. The
pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of street vendors and the need for sustainable
alternatives for their occupation.
Therefore, this empirical investigation aims to assess the socio-economic opportunities for
street vendors in Dhaka and identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation. The
investigation will provide insights into the challenges faced by street vendors and help develop
policies and interventions to improve their living and working conditions. The study is crucial
for developing a comprehensive understanding of the street vending industry in Dhaka and
finding sustainable solutions for the socio-economic challenges faced by street vendors.
1.3 Scope of the Report
This report focuses on the socio-economic opportunities and challenges faced by street vendors
in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The report aims to identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation
and suggest policy recommendations to improve their living and working conditions.
The investigation will use a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and focus
group discussions, to collect data from street vendors, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
The study will also review existing literature on street vending and related policies in Dhaka
and other similar contexts.

9. Page | 3
The report will analyses the findings of the investigation and provide insights into the socio-
economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka. It will also highlight the challenges faced by
street vendors and identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation.
The report will provide policy recommendations to local authorities, government agencies, and
other stakeholders to improve the living and working conditions of street vendors in Dhaka.
The recommendations will aim to promote a more sustainable and organized street vending
sector, which will benefit both the vendors and the city's economy.
However, this report has some limitations. The investigation will focus only on street vendors
in Dhaka, and the findings may not be generalizable to other cities or countries. Furthermore,
the investigation may face some limitations due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation,
which may affect data collection and analysis.
1.4 Objective of the Study
The general objective of preparing this term paper is to fulfil the requirement of Course:
Strategic Management as well as the completion of the MBA Program through obtaining
practical and theoretical knowledge of the sector. The objective of this term paper is classified
into two parts. They are:
1.4.1 Primary Objective:
The primary objective of the report is to identify the factors that assess the socio-economic
opportunity for street vendors in Dhaka city.
1.4.2 Specific objectives:
a. To identify the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka, including their
income, working hours, and access to basic services.
b. To examine the challenges faced by street vendors in Dhaka, including harassment by
local authorities, health and safety risks, and limited legal protection.
c. To identify the factors that influence street vending activities in Dhaka, including
market demand, urban planning, and policy frameworks.
d. To suggest sustainable alternatives for street vending in Dhaka that will provide better
working and living conditions for the vendors and promote a more organized and formal
sector.
e. To provide policy recommendations to local authorities, government agencies, and
other stakeholders to improve the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka
and promote a sustainable street vending sector.

10. Page | 4
1.5 Research Questions
A. What are the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka, including their
income, working hours, and access to basic services?
B. What are the challenges faced by street vendors in Dhaka, including harassment by
local authorities, health and safety risks, and limited legal protection?
C. What are the factors that influence street vending activities in Dhaka, including market
demand, urban planning, and policy frameworks?
D. What are the sustainable alternatives for street vending in Dhaka that will provide better
working and living conditions for the vendors and promote a more organized and formal
sector?
E. What policy recommendations can be suggested to local authorities, government
agencies, and other stakeholders to improve the socio-economic conditions of street
vendors in Dhaka and promote a sustainable street vending sector?
1.6 Research Gap
Despite the significant role of street vendors in the economy of Dhaka, there is limited research
on their socio-economic conditions, challenges, and opportunities. Although some studies have
been conducted on the informal economy in Dhaka, few have focused exclusively on street
vendors and their livelihoods.
Moreover, there is a lack of research on sustainable alternatives for street vending in Dhaka.
Existing studies have primarily focused on the challenges faced by street vendors, such as
eviction, harassment, and limited legal protection, without providing viable alternatives to their
current occupation.
Therefore, this empirical investigation aims to fill the research gap by providing a
comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic conditions of street vendors in Dhaka, including
their income, working hours, and access to basic services. The investigation will also examine
the challenges faced by street vendors, including harassment by local authorities, health and
safety risks, and limited legal protection.
Furthermore, this investigation aims to identify sustainable alternatives for street vending in
Dhaka that will provide better working and living conditions for the vendors and promote a
more organized and formal sector. The study will also provide policy recommendations to local
authorities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to improve the socio-economic
conditions of street vendors in Dhaka and promote a sustainable street vending sector.

11. Page | 5
1.7 Research Methodology
In this research will be followed mixed methods as we will collect data from conducting survey
and the interview. So, both qualitative and qualitative data will be collected to conducting the
research. The survey will be providing quantitative data and interview will be provided
qualitative data.
This research has three different types of groups that is: street vendors, Dhaka citizen people,
and City corporation authority. As a result, we select mixed methods. The number of street
vendors and Dhaka citizen people is very high. So, survey methods will be applied for
collecting data from Both of them. And we also conduct with five people who work in City
Corporation. On the other hand, we want to collect information from internet platform. We
collect information from journal, newspaper and research paper.
1.7.1 Research Design
A typical example of Sequential Mixed Methods Research Design Stages Qualitative data
collection and analysis Quantitative data collection and analysis.

12. Page | 6
2.0 Review of Literature
Street hawkers are a fundamental constituent of urban economies around the world. Street
hawkers provide consumers with convenient and available retail options and form a vital part
of the social and economic life of a city by distributing affordable goods and services. Sharit
and Bhowmik (2005) assessed the magnitude of street vending in different countries and the
composition of the hawkers. Further, it collates information on the extent of unionization of
the hawkers and other organizations, such as non-government organizations (NGOs), self-help
organizations (SHOs), advocacy groups, etc., that work for their welfare. Most of South Asian
developing cities have a large number of street hawkers as an informal trade in the main urban
transaction points as well as Dhaka city. Being a street hawker is one of the best job
opportunities for them as informal activities. In Bangladesh, the number of street hawkers is
large though it is difficult to estimate the exact number of street hawkers. It can be said that
those who have no other ways of meeting the subsistence needs of their families enter into the
informal sector like street vending. It is the only easy option in the informal sector they attempt
to gain insight into the business of street food hawkers: highlight the problem areas and identify
some key factors that positively affect their sales revenue. The problem areas are related to
business operation, business knowledge, extortion, and product and production. According to
the study by Andringa and Kies (1989), in Southeast Asia, the average earnings of a hawker
may be three to ten times more than the minimum wage and they are often comparable to the
wages of skilled laborers employed in the formal sector. The employment context of street
hawkers varies. Many work long hours from the same site on daily basis. These hawkers and
their families typically rely on profits from vending as their primary source of household
income. A variety of employment statuses can be found among street hawkers as well. Most
hawkers work as independent self-employed entrepreneurs, either with or without employees.
There are also many hawkers who work as contributing family members, and some work as
employees of informal or even formal enterprises. But street vending is a non-traditional and
male-dominated job and there is an earning gap between men and women hawkers. In this
perspective, the present study focuses on the socioeconomic condition of street vending and
the contribution of street hawkers in the context of income, employment and service in
Bangladesh.
2.1 Street vendors
A street vendor is a person who offers goods and services for sale to the public without having
a permanent built-up structure but with a temporary static structure or mobile stall or carrying

13. Page | 7
by head. Street vendors offer different products and services that can be stationary and occupy
space on the pavements or other public/private areas, or can be mobile, and move from place
to place carrying their wares on push carts or in cycles or baskets on their heads, or could sell
their wares in moving buses (Ahmed, Bhowmik 2005).
2.2 Socio-Economic Condition
Socio-economic status (SES) is defined as a measure of one's combined economic and social
status and tends to be positively associated with better health. It focuses on the three common
measures of socio-economic status: education, income, and occupation (EH Baker 2014).
2.3 Psychological Condition
Psychological condition of a person refers to the mental condition of a person which effects
the physical soundness of a person.
3.0 Conceptual framework

14. Page | 8
4.0 Hypothesis
𝐻0: Street vendors in Dhaka never face numerous socio-economic challenges
𝐻1: Street vendors in Dhaka face numerous socio-economic challenges that negatively
affect their livelihoods, including low income, long working hours, and limited access to basic
services.
𝐻2 : The challenges faced by street vendors in Dhaka are primarily caused by
harassment by local authorities, health and safety risks, and limited legal protection.
𝐻3 : Factors such as market demand, urban planning, and policy frameworks
significantly influence street vending activities in Dhaka.
𝐻4; The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted street vending activities in
Dhaka, leading to a decline in sales and income for many street vendors.
𝐻5: Sustainable alternatives for street vending in Dhaka can provide better working
and living conditions for the vendors and promote a more organized and formal sector.
𝐻6: Policy recommendations aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of
street vendors in Dhaka and promoting a sustainable street vending sector can have a positive
impact on the livelihoods of street vendors and the economy of Dhaka.
5.0 Analysis
5.1 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STREET VENDORS
Personal characteristics like age and sex, marital status, education, skills, length of residence
in the city and length of life in hawking are discussed in this section. The hawkers of Dhaka
city are commonly characterized by unskilled, poorly educated and migrants. Usually, the
women do not come to this occupation, so almost all of them are male and most of them are
young, aged 21-30 years.
A large majority (65 percent) of the hawkers are married in between the age group of 31-50
and unmarrieds in between 21-30. But the number of people who are 21-30 isn’t less than the
age group 31-50, it is about 33.33% as we have shown in the graph-1.

15. Page | 9
Graph 1: Demographic Information about Hawkers in Dhaka
In graph 2 we have tried to focus on the Education and skills of the hawkers of Dhaka. As we
can see from the graph 2 that only 30-40% are skilled who are not educated and the rest of
them are skilled. On the other hand, those who have a minimum education about 60-70% are
skilled and the rest are new to the field or have adaptability issues.
Graph 2: Level of Professional Skills

16. Page | 10
5.2 ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HAWKER
Economic characteristics like activities of hawkers, source of capital, income, infrastructural
cost, cost of sales items, amount of daily sales, time schedule of business, payment like rent
and other made by hawkers is discussed in this section. Hawkers are characterized as urban
poor but they play an important role in the urban economy through contributing to the
development process. Such a contribution may be small in size compared to the total GDP of
the city, but socially and economically its importance is not negligible. Therefore, the
importance and scenarios of hawker’s economic characteristics have been discussed here.
Activities of hawkers at the time of survey, about 30 different hawkers’ activities were
identified at the four sample locations of the city. These activities of the hawkers can be
grouped into three kinds of activities like production, sales and service.
Graph 3: Different types of working sectors of hawkers
In graph 3 we can see the category of jobs that are done by hawkers in Dhaka city. About
36.67% hawkers are related to the clothing and garments and about 13.33% are involved in
fruits and vegetables selling. About 16.67%, 23.33% and 10.00% are involved respectively in
foods and beverages, cosmetic and jewelry and shoe repairing and polishing.

17. Page | 11
Graph 4: Involvement of Hawkers in sells and service
In graph 4 we have shown how many of them are working in sales and how many are
working in service.
About 73.33 percent of hawkers were engaged in sales. On the other hand, 26.66 percent are
engaged in services. Where in garments sectors hawkers are directly involved in selling, few
are involved in supply to the sellers and they have been considered as service also those who
do trimming, fitting after sales of clothes. Other sectors are also considered similarly like
clothing and garments section.
5.2.1 Sources of Capital
The main source of hawkers’ capital is their own savings; sixty-two percent of the hawkers
mentioned this. Other major sources of capital are family and friends (16 percent) and Mohajon
(13.5 percent). Some 2 percent mentioned that they took a loan from Somiti (credit given by
the society). Rest of the 7 percent of the hawkers manage their capital from various other
sources (such as relatives, land owners, shop owners etc.)
5.2.2 Income
According to the survey the average income of the hawkers is to be Tk. 3,305, which is in fact,
fall below the poverty line (according to GOB- ADB, 2022, the poverty line in the city is Tk.
3500). About 53.33 percent of hawkers earned Tk. upto 3,000 only. A substantial portion of
hawkers (16 percent) are very poor, they earned only less than Tk. 2,000. Thirty-one percent

18. Page | 12
of hawkers' income is within the range of Tk. 3001 to Tk. 4,000. Only 36 percent of hawkers
earned more than Tk. 4,001. However, a substantial proportion of the hawkers earned more
than Tk. 5,000. The
highest income in the surveyed hawkers is found to be Tk. 20,000. Some hawkers’ earn a
substantial amount in a month because they have more than one shop at the footpath; even
some of them have 4 to 5 shops.
Graph 5: Income of Hawkers who are living in Dhaka City single and with their family
Data shows that 30 percent of hawkers’ family income is below Tk 3,001. Thirty percent of
hawkers' family income is Tk. 3,001 to Tk. 4,000. (Table 5) and about 26 percent of hawkers'
family income is within the range Tk. 4,001 to 5,000. The 2 test shows that a hawker's family
income (Table 5) significantly influences the hawker’s income. Cost of Making Hawkers’ Shop
Most of the informal businesses need very small investment and in hawking there is no
exception. A hawker spends a small amount of money preparing his small structure like a small
box, little frame or preparing a van for hawking. To make these structures, hawkers spend a
very small amount of Taka. For example, seventy-percent of the hawkers spent upto Tk. 1,000
for this, about 10 percent spent between Tk. 1,001 to Tk. 3,000. There are:

19. Page | 13
5.2.3 Time schedule of Business
The hawkers usually start their business in the morning and close at night. About 60 percent of
the hawkers start their business between 8 and 9 am, 12 percent between 6 and 7 am and 21
percent hawkers start their business after 9 am. Hawkers close their business between 7 to 11
pm. Some 42 percent of the hawkers closed their business between 7 to 9 pm and about 43
percent of the hawkers closed their business within 9 to 11 pm. However, some of them closed
it to some extent later, who closed their business at midnight (Annex Table 5). Hawkers
mentioned that the best days for business are Thursday and Friday (on the weekend). On the
other hand, the worst day is Saturday. Thirty-eight percent of hawkers mentioned that Friday
is the best day for selling.
In general, it has been observed that the hawkers work long hours in the preparation and selling
of their goods in Dhaka city. They spend 10- 15 hours each working day. Forty-one percent of
the hawkers worked 8 to 11 hours a day (Annex Table 6). Another 40 percent of the hawkers
worked 11 hours or more in a day on average. Only 13 percent of hawkers spend 5-8 hours in
business. A small number of them (6 percent) spend 5 hours or less in hawking.
5.2.4 Rent and other Payments Made by Hawkers for their Business
Most of the hawkers are unauthorized and they conduct their business on the footpaths. They
have to pay tolls for their illegal business on footpaths to mastans, police, samiti, linemen, etc.
Although selling products on the footpath is illegal, there are allegations that the hawkers in
the New Market area pay around Tk 2 lakh to a gang (constituted with linemen and mastans),
which shares the collection with the law-enforcing agency to run their business. Hawkers on
the New Market footpath alleged that “linemen” collect tolls from each of them—up to Tk.
200—to run their business. “The police share the collection with the gang members,” said a
hawker in front of the Dhaka City Corporation market at Nilkhet. Another hawker who runs
his business in front of the General Post Office alleged the police collect around Tk 5 lakh from
the hawkers on the Baitul Mukarram, GPO and Purana Paltan footpaths every day. A leader of
the Bangladesh Hawkers’ Movement Council said the city hawkers pay a total of Tk 20 to 30
lakh to the mastans, police and linemen every day. Linemen are paid persons who work as
middlemen, they maintain connection between police/mastans.
However, most of the hawkers (83.33 percent) have to make this illegal payment (Table 6).
Among them, 13.33 percent pay to the mastans, 40 percent to police, 3.33 percent to samiti or
societies and the rest 26.66 percent pay to the linemen. On an average, hawkers pay Tk. 19.39
per day for their business on the sidewalks/footpath. The amount of such payments depends on

20. Page | 14
the size of the business and their location. Fifty-nine percent of hawkers pay Tk. upto 15 per
day, another 33 percent hawkers pay Tk. 16 to Tk. 30 per day. A substantial portion (about 8
percent) of hawkers is paying up to taka 50 per day. According to a report published in a daily
newspaper, hawkers are paying illegally to mastans, police or linemen about Tk. 250 to 300
million per month and 3,000 to 3,600 million taka per year (Prothom Alo, 12 March, 2022).
Graph 6: To Whom Hawkers Make Illegal Payments
5.0 Limitations of the study
The limitation of the study is-
a. Small sample size: The study might have only interviewed a limited number of street
vendors in Dhaka, which could affect the generalizability of the findings.
b. Sampling bias: The sample might not be representative of the entire street vendor
population in Dhaka, as the researchers may have only interviewed those who were
accessible or willing to participate in the study. This could affect the accuracy of the
results.
c. Self-reported data: The study may have relied on self-reported data from street
vendors, which could be biased or inaccurate due to factors such as social desirability
bias or memory recall issues.

21. Page | 15
d. Lack of longitudinal data: The study might have only collected data at one point in
time, which limits the ability to identify changes in the socio-economic opportunities
of street vendors over time.
e. Limited scope: The study might have only focused on identifying sustainable
alternatives for street vendors, without exploring broader social and economic factors
that affect their livelihoods.
f. Limited generalizability: The findings of the study might only be applicable to the
specific context of Dhaka and may not be generalizable to other cities or countries with
different socio-economic conditions and policies.
6.0 Findings
In Dhaka city, street vendors are a common informal economic activity, but it also presents
various challenges and concerns related to traffic congestion, hygiene, and public safety. To
address these issues, the Dhaka City Corporation and law enforcement agencies have
implemented certain limitations and regulations on street hawking. Here are some general
points to consider:
a. Designated areas: There are specific zones or areas within the city where street
hawking is allowed. These areas are designated by the city authorities to manage and
control the activities of street vendors.
b. Licensing and permits: Street hawkers are often required to obtain licenses or permits
from the city authorities to operate legally. These licenses may specify the permitted
location, duration, and the type of goods that can be sold.
c. Time restrictions: There may be time restrictions on street hawking activities. For
example, vendors may be allowed to operate only during specific hours or days of the
week. This helps in managing traffic flow and minimizing congestion during peak
hours.
d. Prohibited areas: Some areas, such as busy commercial districts, major road
intersections, or pedestrian-only zones, may have restrictions on street hawking to
ensure public safety and smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
e. Hygiene and cleanliness: Street hawkers are often required to maintain certain hygiene
standards. They may need to follow guidelines related to food handling, waste disposal,
and cleanliness to prevent health hazards.

22. Page | 16
f. Enforcement and penalties: Law enforcement agencies periodically conduct drives to
ensure compliance with the regulations. Violations of the rules may result in penalties,
fines, or confiscation of goods.
It's important to note that the specific limitations and regulations on street hawking in Dhaka
city can vary, and there might be additional factors or considerations depending on the local
government's policies and evolving circumstances. To get the most accurate and up-to-date
information, it is advisable to consult the Dhaka City Corporation or relevant authorities
responsible for managing street hawking activities in the city.
7.0 Challenges
Removing street vendors can be a challenging task, as it involves several social, economic, and
political factors. Some of the challenges to removing street vendors include:
a. Informal economy: Street vending is often part of the informal economy, and many
vendors depend on it for their livelihoods. Removing street vendors without providing
alternative livelihood options can leave them without any source of income, leading to
economic hardship.
b. Legal issues: In many cases, street vending is not legal, but authorities may not enforce
laws against it due to political reasons or a lack of resources. In such cases, removing
street vendors can lead to legal challenges and protests.
c. Public support: Street vendors often have the support of local communities, who
appreciate their services and see them as part of the local culture. Removing them can
lead to protests and negative public sentiment.
d. Enforcement challenges: Removing Street vendors can be challenging due to the sheer
number of vendors and the difficulty of enforcing laws in crowded urban areas. This
can lead to a cycle of removing vendors, only for them to return later.
e. Corruption: Corruption can be a significant challenge when trying to remove street
vendors, as some vendors may bribe officials or law enforcement to continue their
activities. In some cases, officials may also be involved in the street vending trade.
Overall, removing street vendors can be a complex and challenging task that requires careful
consideration of the social, economic, and political factors involved. It is crucial to find a
balance between the interests of vendors, local communities, and the broader urban population
while also ensuring that laws and regulations are enforced.

23. Page | 17
8.0 Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study on assessing the socio-economic opportunity for street
vendors in Dhaka, the following recommendations are suggested to identify sustainable
alternatives for their occupation:
a. Create designated vending zones: The government should consider creating
designated vending zones in Dhaka, where street vendors can operate without fear of
harassment from law enforcement officials. This will help to provide a stable and safe
environment for vendors to operate in.
b. Improve infrastructure: The infrastructure in the vending zones needs to be improved
to make them more conducive to business. This could include providing basic facilities
such as clean water, sanitation, and waste management.
c. Provide access to credit and financial services: Many street vendors in Dhaka lack
access to credit and financial services, which limits their ability to expand their
businesses. The government could work with financial institutions to provide street
vendors with access to credit and financial services, enabling them to grow their
businesses and improve their livelihoods.
d. Provide vocational training: Providing vocational training to street vendors in Dhaka
can help them develop the skills needed to operate their businesses more efficiently.
This could include training in marketing, inventory management, and customer service.
e. Foster partnerships between street vendors and other stakeholders: The
government should foster partnerships between street vendors and other stakeholders,
including local businesses and residents. This could lead to improved social and
economic integration, providing street vendors with more opportunities to grow their
businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Overall, the recommendations suggest a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to
supporting street vendors in Dhaka. By providing a supportive environment, access to credit
and training, and fostering partnerships, street vendors can improve their socio-economic status
and contribute to the overall development of the city.

24. Page | 18
9.0 Conclusion:
The study on assessing the socio-economic opportunity for street vendors in Dhaka concludes
that there is a significant need to identify sustainable alternatives for their occupation. The
findings of the study suggest that street vending is an essential livelihood option for a large
number of people in Dhaka, and any attempt to remove them without providing alternative
livelihood options could have severe social and economic consequences.
The study found that the majority of street vendors in Dhaka are from low-income
backgrounds, and they rely on street vending as their primary source of income. The income
generated from street vending is often barely enough to meet their basic needs, and the lack of
social protection leaves them vulnerable to various risks.
The study also found that street vendors face several challenges, including harassment from
law enforcement officials, lack of access to credit, and inadequate infrastructure. These
challenges often prevent them from expanding their businesses and improving their
livelihoods.
Based on the findings, the study recommends that policymakers and stakeholders should focus
on developing sustainable alternatives for street vendors. This could include creating
designated vending zones, providing access to credit and financial services, and improving the
infrastructure in these areas.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of recognizing street vending as a legitimate
occupation and finding ways to support it sustainably. By doing so, it is possible to improve
the socio-economic status of street vendors and contribute to the overall development of the
city.

25. Page | 19
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