Two vehicles of the city corporation were vandalised and set on fire after an eviction drive on footpaths sparked violent clashes with hawkers in Mirpur-10 area on Wednesday.
The confrontation broke out at around 10:30 am in the Hope Market area when city corporation staff arrived to clear illegal shops from the footpath, witnesses said.
According to hawkers, a fire broke out from an electric wire during the eviction in front of Hope Market. The incident enraged vendors, who then attacked the eviction team and vandalised several city corporation vehicles.
The situation quickly escalated into a chase and counter-chase. At around 10:45 am, several Ansar members were seen running from Hope Market towards Mirpur-13 as 20 to 30 people hurled sticks and brickbats at them.
A fire was seen raging on the western side of Baitul Quddus Jame Mosque in front of Hope Market.
When a police pick-up arrived from the Mirpur-10 roundabout, hawkers pelted it with brickbats.
Two fire service units rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control after 15 to 20 minutes.
Hawkers said various goods were stored at the spot where the fire broke out.
Several hundred hawkers took part in the attack and vandalism. Two city corporation vehicles were damaged and torched.
Journalists covering the incident faced obstruction. Photojournalist Mahbub Hossain Nobin of Samakal daily was assaulted while trying to photograph the burnt vehicles.
Attempts to capture photos and videos from the scene were blocked.
No police personnel were seen at the site during the time of the incident.