Vendors at Suhrawardy Udyan suffer losses of Tk 15 lakh in a week

Suhrawardy Udyan, located next to the TSC in the heart of Dhaka, has long served as a lifeline for hundreds of small vendors. Over the years, a micro-economy developed around the park — revolving around the sale of fuchka, water, ice cream, chotpoti, khichuri, and various food carts. Many families relied on this ecosystem for their daily sustenance. But that fragile stability was shattered on the night of May 13 following the killing of Shahriar Alam Samyo, a brilliant student of Dhaka University and the Literary and Publication Secretary of the student wing of BNP at Sir AF Rahman Hall.

In the wake of his murder, over a hundred floating shops inside Suhrawardy Udyan were evicted as part of heightened security measures. This sudden decision has thrown the livelihoods of the vendors into disarray. Within a week, the collective financial loss for these small traders has surpassed Tk 1.5 million.

Water Dealers’ Businesses Dry Up

Five water dealers used to regularly supply bottled water to hawkers around the park. Among them is Shahjahan, who has been running his business in the area since 1992.

“Before Samyo bhai’s murder, I used to sell 80 to 90 crates of water daily at Tk 240 per crate, earning Tk 21,000 to 22,000 a day. Now I can’t sell even 15 to 20 crates. I’ve lost nearly Tk 200,000 in just one week,” he said.

Another dealer, Rahim Mia, shared a similar story. “I used to sell 150 crates a day in front of the Engineering Institute. Now it’s down to just 15 to 20. I had bought water worth Tk 400,000, but only about Tk 50,000 worth has been sold. I’m facing losses of around Tk 200,000.”

Ice Cream Sellers in Distress

Arif Mia, who has been selling ice cream near the park gate for the past ten years, said, “Before May 13, I used to sell 30 to 35 blocks of ice daily at Tk 440 each. My daily income was around Tk 15,000. Now, there are barely any sales. I’ve lost over Tk 100,000 in the past week.”

Food Cart and Fuchka Vendors Devastated

Alaudddin Babu, a fuchka vendor near the Ramna Kali Temple gate, said, “I used to sell Tk 25,000 to Tk 30,000 worth of fuchka every day. Since my shop was torn down, I haven’t earned a single taka. I alone have suffered a loss of Tk 250,000. At least ten other fuchka vendors have been evicted too — together we’ve lost Tk 500,000 to 600,000.”

Abdullah Moni, a second-year law student at Dhaka University, said he used to sell khichuri from a food cart and earned Tk 6,000 to 7,000 daily. “After the eviction, sales have dropped drastically,” he said.

A Precarious Future

On the night of May 13, enraged students entered Suhrawardy Udyan and vandalized 10 to 12 shops, causing damages estimated at around Tk 200,000. The affected small traders say they are unsure if they will ever be able to recover from the losses and restart their businesses.

Until recently, over a hundred floating vendors operated in the park. Since Samyo’s killing, however, they have not been allowed to return. According to the vendors, no other location generates as much foot traffic and sales as Suhrawardy Udyan, leaving them with few alternatives and no steady source of income.

Call for Rehabilitation

The affected vendors have appealed to the authorities for rehabilitation on humanitarian grounds. They are requesting that a temporary alternative location be allocated to allow them to resume their businesses. Otherwise, they fear they will be left with no choice but to starve along with their families.