Several people, including police personnel, were injured in a clash between hawkers and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) staff during an eviction drive at Mirpur-10 on Wednesday morning.
The clash started on the footpath in front of Hope Market as the DNCC was conducting an eviction drive from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-14 areas from around 10am.
During the clash, two DNCC dump trucks were set on fire and three bulldozers were vandalised, according to a DNCC official who spoke to UNB on condition of anonymity.
A police vehicle was also vandalised during the incident.
Hawkers claimed that the fire initially broke out from an electrical wire when DNCC personnel began removing shops from the footpath.
They said the situation became tense after some goods were damaged in the fire.
At one stage, angry hawkers hurled sticks and bricks at people involved in the eviction drive. Two DNCC vehicles were later vandalised and set on fire.
Two Fire Service units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after around 15 to 20 minutes of efforts.
Meanwhile, several media workers came under attack while covering the incident.
A vehicle of Jamuna Television was vandalised, while a reporter and a cameraman of Somoy TV were assaulted, said witnesses.
Samakal photographer Mahbub Hossain Nabin was also reportedly injured in an attack by several hawkers.
The clash also disrupted traffic on roads in Mirpur-10 area for some time .
Additional police were later deployed in the area.
Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Mirpur Division Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar said several police personnel were injured during the clash.
“The situation is now normal,” he said.