Dhaka city lacks enough parks and playgrounds especially in the old Dhaka the situation is worse. Recently it has been published in the newspaper that, 2506 hawkers are going to be rehabilitated in the Gulistan Park in temporary basis. This will reduce the chance of recreation and physical activity and also will adversely affect the natural and social life. So it is important to abandon the thought of rehabilitating hawkers in Gulistan Park and initiatives should be taken to develop the park. On 2^nd November 2016, 11AM, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Green Voice, Protyasha anti-Drug Club, Nagorik Odhikar Shongrokkhon Forum (NASOF), Dhaka International University, Cycle Lane Bastobayon Porishod, Institute of Wellbeing and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly organized a human chain on ‘Demand to not Rehabilitate Hawkers in Gulistan Park’ and speakers expressed above view in the program.

Speakers said that, if hawkers are rehabilitated in the park, there is a risk that there will be no existence of the park. And using park for other purposes is against law. It has been seen that hawkers market has been built for the hawkers but others come and occupy the empty footpath. The same can happen with Gulistan Park. Rather than rehabilitating hawkers in the parks, it is important to manage them in footpaths with proper design and management.

After the demonstration a team went to visit Honorable Mayor Sayeed Khokon of Dhaka South City Corporation and the team provided recommendations regarding park and hawker management. Then mayor said that he is not suggesting using the whole park and only the area beside the Drama Stage. But the team requested him to not do so. Then the Mayor committed a round table meeting for the final decision.

The team provided recommendations for not using Gulistan Park for hawker rehabilitation, bring back the park in previous condition by closing the road inside the park, buildong necessary infrastructure like sitting arrangement, shades, playing equipments, accessibility for all and inclusive equipments, ensure monitoring through a committee including local leader, politician, administration, businessman, hawker and community people, allocating proper budget, develop and protect all parks and playgrounds under DSCC, ensure security guard to protest drug dealers and users, broadening footpath, controlling private cars and promote public transport, manage hawkers in footpaths and keeping their goods in vertical position (that will take less place), registering hawkers and utilize the money for their maintenance, ensuring no permanent infrastructure by the hawkers, keeping the premises clean by the hawkers themselves, cancelling license if the rules are violated.

the demonstration was moderated by Ziaur Rahman, Senior Project Officer, WBB Trust. The demonstration was presided by Abu Naser Khan, Chairman, POBA. The speakers were Maruf Hossain, Program Manager, WBB Trust; Mihir Biswas, Acting General Secretary, BAPA; Mohidul Haq Khan, Member, BAPA; Hafizur Rahman Moyna, Chairman, NASOF; Helal Ahmed, General Secretary, Protyasha, Aminur Rasul, Member Secretary, Unnayan Dhara Trust and many more.