A Survey on the Impact of Hartal on

the Poor of Dhaka City

Designed by
Dr. Osman Haider Chawdhury
Executive Director
Institute of Policy Studies
House # 8/4, Block!, "#l$#ti#
D%#k# &'(), B#ngl#des%
Su*ervision #nd D#t# Processing by
Mujtaba Mahbub Morshed
Progr#$$e +,icer
-ese#rc% !nd Soci#l Survey .nit
De$ocr#cy/#tc%
) 0ircuit House -o#d, 1#kr#il
D%#k# &(((, B#ngl#des%
S*onsored by
ActionAid Bangladesh
#nd
Democracywatch
&8 !*ril '(((
The Assistance provided by the following interviewers is gratefully acknowledged.
Supervisors
M. M. Morshed
Md. Saiful Islam
Interviewers
Mohammad Nazmul Islam
aisal Ahmed
!ashir Ahmed
Sazeda Sultana
"asan "arun#ar#$ashid %hawdhury
Mohammad Mosarrof "ossain
Mohammad &akir "ossain
Mohammad Tare' I'bal
Afroza Sultana
Shekh Shahidul (arim Nipu
Mohammad "aider "ossain
A. &. ahmi
Hartal and the Poor of Dhaka City
Executive Summary
The perception that fre'uent hartals are not supported by the general public has been validated by this
survey. )emocracywatch and ActionAid !angladesh conducted the survey on *+++ poor city dwellers.
The specific ob,ective of the survey was to determine the e-tent of income loss and sufferings of the poor
city dwellers. The survey was conducted on five categories of poor city dwellers. They are.
*. $ickshawpullers/
0. 1oor footpath vendors/
2. )aily wage earners/
3. Slum dwellers4floating people/
5. Small shopkeepers4traders.
The survey systematically dealt with the participation of the respondents in hartals and other political
activities6 their loss4damage due to hartals6 suffering of the respondents in hartals and their perception on
hartal or alternatives to hartals. An urban poor is defined as one who earns Tk. 3+++4 per month or below.
7n an average6 each respondent has observed about *02 hartals and 89 per cent of the respondents tell
that they have incurred income loss4damage of their properties due to hartal. The main reason of income
loss is due to the shut down and income decrease due to hartal :88 per cent;. <hile in normal times6 a
respondent would work *+#*0 hours6 during hartal6 their average daily work is halved6 and conse'uently6
earning drops by average 8+ per cent.
Table
!vera"e Hours #orked and Daily Income in $ormal Times and Durin" Hartal
7ccupation Normal Time )uring "artal
$ickshawpuller 9.+8 :*+0; 2.3+ :35;
1oor footpath vendor **.=+ :9+; 5.3+ :23;
)ay labourer 9.3+ :>8; 3.>+ :23;
Small shopkeeper **.9+ :*+5; 5.9+ :32;
?arment worker **.0+ :8>; >.5+ :2=;
It is also interesting to note that a large number of respondents close their workplaces and activities due
to hartal. Almost 50 per cent of the $ickshawpullers6 3= per cent of the ootpath @endors6 32 per cent of
small shopkeepers have to close their works. ?enerally6 fear of mastans6 terrorists and overall threat to
peace are the main reasons for work stoppage. In case of garment workers6 only 03 per cent canAt attend
their ,obs because of general fear. It should be also noted that garments are not within the preview of
hartal.
Politics of Hartal
The political activists mostly use the poor city dwellers in political activities like meetings6 processions6
gherao etc. Most of the times6 the violent political activities are also sustained by the youth recruited from
among the poor of the city6 mainly footpath vendors6 slum dwellers6 $ickshawpullers and daily labourers.
These city dwellers receive financial and monetary help for participation in these activities. "owever6 on
an average only 9 per cent of the respondents participated in hartal related activities and 9* per cent of
the respondents participated in activities against hartal. !ut strongly6 0= per cent of the respondents
received financial support for activities related to hartal. Thus only one third of the respondents who
received money for participating in hartal related activities actually participated in those activities. 7n the
other hand6 02 per cent of the respondents receive money for participating in activities against hartal.
"owever6 20 per cent of the respondents think that the damage during hartal was done by pro#
government forces and only 0+ per cent of the respondents believe that damage was done by opposition
activists. This is natural in view of the greater street activities by pro#government forces during hartal.
inally it is interesting to note that only 0 per cent of the respondents support hartal as a means of political
activity and 8> per cent of the respondents believe that alternative to hartal is to hold discussion in
parliament. Around 0* per cent of the respondents still suggest meeting and processions are viable
alternatives to hartal. Surprisingly6 only *8 per cent of the respondents believe that the 1rime Minister will
keep her promise of not calling hartal when and if she is in the opposition in future. This reveals that the
poor city dwellers6 from their e-perience do not have much faith in the promises made by the political
leaders.
!% Introduction
"artal politics has become pervasive in !angladesh. It has become part of our life. The fre'uent hartals
and work stoppages have been viewed from different angles. Through hartals6 the opposition political
parties insist on a powerful tool of pressure to make their demands. re'uent hartals generally disrupt the
normal life. Moreover6 the poor suffers more during the hartal as they lose their income. It is generally
believed that fre'uent hartals not only disrupt normal life6 they also have a negative effect on the poor
income earners of the city like the $ickshawpullers6 day labourers6 small shopkeepers6 slum dwellers etc.
There have been fre'uent press reports and a few surveys on the peopleAs perceptions about hartals but
no systematic attempt has yet been taken to 'uantify income loss of the poor city dwellers during hartals.
Although the general perception is that the poor income earners suffer greater income loss during hartals6
the relative loss of the poor city dwellers have not yet been estimated. Nor have there been any
systematic attempt to measure the e-tent of damage of properties of the poor during hartals. There are
widespread perceptions that many poor city dwellers themselves are engaged in disruptive activities
during hartals6 being financed by both the opposition and the pro#government political parties.
The broader aims of this survey are to measure the e-tent of physical and financial damage of the poor
city dwellers6 e-tent of their participation in hartals6 political activities and finally to have an idea on the
e-tent of income loss of these poor.
The survey ,ointly conducted by )emocracywatch and ActionAid !angladesh6 is an attempt to ascertain
the income loss of the poor city dwellers during hartal and to look into their overall perceptions on hartal.
The survey has been carried out during 0> Banuary 0+++ to 2* Banuary on different groups of poor of the
)haka %ity through a structured 'uestionnaire.
&% Survey Desi"n and 'b(ectives
Around *+++ poor of the )haka %ity were interviewed through a 'uestionnaire survey. The urban poor is
defined as one who has no permanent or regular source of income and one who earns his livelihood
through applying his4her physical labor like daily laborers6 rikshawpullers etc. 7ther groups of urban poor
will be defined as small vendors on the footpath and slum dwellers who are engaged in varieties of
income earning activities on a day#to#day basis without any contractual obligation.
A cluster sample design was evolved wherein proportions of urban poor will be interviewed in each cluster
in the following manner.
A. The city was geographically divided into three parts. 7ld city6 city commercial and
industrial area6 new city and the city outskirts.
!. ive categories of urban poor were defined as.
i; $ickshawpullers
ii; 1oor footpath vendors
iii; )aily wage earners
iv; Slum dwellers4floating populations who have no permanent abode.
v; Small shopkeeper4 traders.
Thus across the geographical areas 222 samples were drawn from five categories of respondents6 viz./
0++ respondent from each group of urban poor were interviewed.
In each geographical cluster the slums6 rickshaw stations6 floating poor6 small shopkeepers6 footpath
vendors were identified and respondents were selected on a trial and error basis from the able bodied
male4female aged *= and above.
An income criterion was used to select the target respondents. An urban poor was defined as one whose
monthly average cash income is less than Tk. 3+++ and those who have been observing hartal for the last
one year or more.
'b(ectives of the Survey
*. "ow much income is lost due to hartalC
0. "ow much they suffer in ad,usting to hartal.
2. Total loss and damage incurred.
3. Drban poorAs perception about alternatives to hartal.
5. "ow much the poor are in favor or against hartal.
8. 1articipation of the poor in political activities.
C% )indin"s
C% *eneral Information
Table A* shows the personal characteristic of the respondents. It is seen that the respondents are
predominantly male :=3 per cent;6 illiterate :58 per cent; and ma,ority of them are rickshawpuller. Most of
the respondents :>3 per cent; have no direct political affiliation.
Table !
Distribution of +espondents ,percenta"e-
1osition
Male =3 $ickshawpuller 05
emale *8 ootpath @endor 02
Illiterate 58 )ay Eabourer 03
1rimary School 08 Small shopkeeper 0*
Dpto Secondary level *8 ?arment <orker 2
"S% or above * )isabled 0
7thers 0
Table !.
Income Expenditures of +espondents by 'ccupation
7ccupation Average Monthly Income :Tk.; Average Monthly F-penses :Tk.;
$ickshawpuller 0903 0>=3
ootpath @endor 05>8 0=29
)ay labourer 0*90 039*
Small Shopkeeper 2++* 2*38
?arment <orker *995 09**
)isabled *38= *52=
7thers 020* 0292
rom Table A0 it is seen that e-cept for rickshawpullers6 all other poorer groups have no savings6 viz./
they have more e-penses than income currently. Most of them have borrowed money in
recent times.
Table !/
$umber of Hartals 'bserved by +espondents of Different 'ccupations
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
puller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Average *09.2 *03.5 **0.0 *23.5 =8.9> *33.2 *++.2 *02.>
Table !0
Hartal Dama"e by +espondents of Different 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
puller
1oor footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Ges >2 >> 59 >3 50 30 0> 89
No 0> 02 3* 08 3= 5= >2 2*
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
7ne can notice from Table A2 the average number of hartals observed by different categories of poor city
dwellers. The number is 'uite significant. It shows the number of days the hartals were observed by
different groups. The figures are not rounded up because hartals have different durations. or our
purpose6 we have considered one full day as a unit of hartal. Therefore6 a two#day hartal would signify two
hartals and similarly6 a half#day hartal would mean +.5 hartal and so on.
In Table A36 the damage of properties and income loss by different groups in hartals has been reported.
7n an average 89 per cent of the respondents have faced damage and income loss due to hartal. The
$ickshawpullers6 ootpath vendor and small shopkeepers have been mostly affected in hartals. In
relative terms6 the garment workers and disabled people are less affected6 in the term of 50 and 30 per
cent of them have suffered damage or loss respectively.
Table !1
The $ature of Dama"e of Different 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total
$ickshaw
puller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Income
de
cre
as
es
50 =* 58 =* >8 == =+ 88
ound no
,ob
9 5 2+ 8 8 # 0+ *0
1hysical
da
ng
er
** 9 9 > *= *0 # 9
)amage of
ric
ks
ha
w
0= # # # # # # *+
7thers # 5 8 8 # # # 0
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Table !2
The $ature of Dama"e by *eo"raphic !rea ,percenta"e-
?eographic area
Total
7ld )haka %ommercial and Industrial area New )haka and outlines
Income decreases 8> 82 8= 88
ound no ,ob *2 *0 *0 *0
1hysical danger *+ 9 = 9
)amage of rickshaw 9 *2 *+ *+
7thers 0 2 0 0
Total *++ *++ *++ *++
In Table A56 we note that across all the 7ccupations6 the income decrease due to hartal is 'uite
significant. 7n an average6 88 per cent of the respondents have reported income decrease. Similarly6 in
Table A86 income decrease is significant in all the geographical clusters of the city where the poor live.
Table !3
!vera"e Hours #orked and Daily Income in $ormal Times and Durin" Hartal
7ccupation Normal Time )uring "artal
$ickshawpuller 9.+8 :*+0; 2.3+ :35;
1oor footpath vendor **.=+ :9+; 5.3+ :23;
)ay labourer 9.3+ :>8; 3.>+ :23;
Small shopkeeper **.9+ :*+5; 5.9+ :32;
?arment worker **.0+ :8>; >.5+ :2=;
)isabled 9.0+ :39; 8.>+ :0=;
7thers **.2+ :>9; >.=+ :30;
Note: Figures in parenthesis are Tk. Earned per day.
In Table A> one can see the differences between average hours worked per day and average daily
income during normal times and during hartals for different groups of poor city dwellers. F-cept for
garment workers the fall in average workload and daily income is 'uite substantial. The decline is more
than half in case of both work hour and income.
Table !4
!ny Problem with )ood Intake Durin" Hartal by 'ccupation ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
puller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Ges 23 08 2* 03 2* 2> > 09
7ccasionally 28 5+ 2* 29 03 ** 3+ 2=
No 2+ 03 29 2> 35 52 52 22
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Table !5
The $ature of Problem with )ood Intake Durin" Hartal by 'ccupation ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
puller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isable 7thers
Starving 0 0 5 # # *0 *3 0
!orrowed 5= 52 83 30 58 00 09 53
Spend from
Sa
vin
gs
3+ 33 2+ 58 33 22 5> 30
7thers * 0 * 0 # 22 # 0
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Tables A= and Table A9 show the magnitude of the problem relating to food intake during hartal. Most of
the poor city dwellers have problem related to food intake during hartal6 although the level of starvation is
very low. It can also be seen that most of them borrow money during hartal for avoiding starvation.
Table !6
The Experience of Physical Threat7'ther Dan"ers Durin" Hartal ,percenta"e-
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
puller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
)ecreases
inc
om
e
05 29 20 2> 32 05 0+ 22
ound no
Bob
8 8 03 3 3 8 5+ *+
1hysical
"ar
ass
me
nt
08 2+ 03 22 25 33 *+ 09
ear from
1oli
ce
5 8 > > 3 *2 0+ 8
ear from
Ma
sta
ns
** *5 ** *3 9 *2 # *2
)amages of
rick
sha
w
08 0 0 0 # # # 9
7thers # 0 # 2 3 # # *
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
In Table A*+ we can observe the e-perience of income changes and other danger4physical threats across
the poor groups of city dwellers during hartal. 1hysical threat and decrease in income is significant across
all the 7ccupations. ear from mastans6 most translated into actions is also 'uite notable.
Table !
+easons for +espondents #illin"ness to 8eave Dhaka Due to Hartal ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isable 7thers
No source of
inc
om
e
25 3+ 2> 2= 3* 0* 2= 2>
No house *9 *= 00 *9 02 22 02 0+
No land 2+ 0= 0> 08 02 05 02 0=
No other
faci
litie
s
*5 *0 *3 *> *3 0* *5 *3
7thers * * + * + + + *
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
The respondents were asked if they are willing to go back to the village due to the e-perience of hartals
and conse'uent loss and damage. Almost 3+ to 5+ per cent of them said that they are not willing to go
back to the village. The reasons they cited for not wishing to go back is shown in Table A**. Most of them
responded that they have neither source of income nor any house4land in the village on which they can
fall back on.
Table !.
Distribution of +espondents #ho Close Their #orkplace Durin" Hartal and the +easons Thereof
ear of
Terrorist
:H;
Moral support to
hartal
:H;
ear ness in
general
:H;
In support of
political leader
:H;
7ther
:H;
$ickshawpuller :50; 05 * >* 0 0
1oor footpath vendor :3=; *9 * >> # 2
)ay labourer :30; *2 3 >= * 2
Small shopkeeper :32; 0= 0 >+ # #
?arment worker :03; # # *++ # #
)isable :0*; # # *++ # #
7thers :22; # # *++ # #
Note: Figures in parenthesis shows the percentage of respondents who close their workplace due to
hartal
<e note in Table A*0 that the proportions of respondents who close their workplace due to hartal are
higher in all 7ccupations e-cept for garment workers and disabled. The disabled generally work at home.
ear is reported to be the preponderant reason for closing the workplace. Apart from $ickshawpullers6
fear of terrorists is also a ma,or reason of work stoppage. Moral support for hartal or support for any
political leader is a very insignificant cause for work stoppage suggesting a very low level of political
affiliation of the poor city dwellers.
C.% Politics of Hartal and the Poor in the City
It has already been observed that the poor city dwellers have very insignificant direct political affiliation as
shown in Table A*0 and Table!*
Table &
Participation in 9eetin"s7Processions in Support of Hartal by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total
$ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled
7thers
Ges = 8 *0 = > ** 3> 9
No 90 93 == 90 92 =9 52 9*
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Table &.
The +eceipt of )inance for Those !ctivities ,Participation in 9eetin"s7Processions in Support of
Hartal- by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Ges *5 > 23 05 5+ 5+ >* 0=
No =5 92 88 >5 5+ 5+ 09 >0
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
It is observed that across all 7ccupations6 participation in meetings4processions varies from 8 to ** per
cent. In an average6 only 9 per cent of the respondents actively participate in these activities :Table !*;.
7nly 0= per cent of the respondents receive financial help from political parties for activities related to
hartal :Table !0;. Thus6 a large number of respondents who receive funds6 do not participate in the
activities they are supposed to participate in. <hereas = per cent of the respondents actively participate in
meetings and processions against hartal and 02 per cent of the respondents who receive funds to engage
against hartals.
Table &/
Participation in 9eetin"s7Processions !"ainst Hartal by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Ges *0 = 5 8 2 ** 52 =
No == 90 95 93 9> =9 3> 90
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Table &0
The +eceipt of )inance for Those !ctivities ,Participation in 9eetin"s7Processions in !"ainst
Hartal- by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
Ges > 8 5+ 22 # 5+ 82 02
No 92 93 5+ 8> *++ 5+ 2> >>
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Table &1
Perception on +esponsibilities of Dama"e Due to Hartal by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
?overnment 2= 2* 22 2+ 2= ** > 20
7pposition 0* *= 0+ 02 *+ 0* *2 0+
!oth party 03 02 02 09 0* 08 0+ 05
)onAt know *> 0= 03 *= 2* 30 8+ 02
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Table &2
'verall Support of Hartal by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isable 7thers
Ges 2 2 # 0 # # # 0
No 9> 9> *++ 9= *++ *++ *++ 9=
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
In Table !8 it is reported that only 0 per cent of the poor city dwellers support hartal in principal as a
means of protest. 7n the 'uestion of responsibilities due to damage done in hartals6 20 per cent of t he
respondents blame the government and 0+ per cent blame the opposition for the damage. About 05 per
cent of the respondents put the blame on both the government and the opposition :Table !5;
Table &3
!lternatives to Hartal by 'ccupations ,percenta"e-
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
$oad march * 0 3 * # # # 0
Mass communication = 3 8 *2 *+ # # =
Meeting41rocession 05 *9 *> 02 # # # 0*
)iscussion in the
1arliament
88 >0 >+ 8* 9+ *++ *++ 8>
7thers * 2 2 * # # # 0
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
7n the alternative means of protest and political activity6 8> per cent of the respondents desire parliament
to be the forum of political discussion. They desire parliament to be more effective. 0* per cent of the
respondents do support meetings4processions as a vehicle of political protest by the opposition.
Table &4
Perception !bout Prime 9inister:s +ecent Call on Her Promise $ot to Call Hartal #hen She #ould
be in 'pposition by 'ccupations ,percenta"e;
$esponses
7ccupation of $espondents
Total $ickshaw
1uller
1oor
footpath
vendor
)ay
labourer
Small
shopkeeper
?arment
worker
)isabled 7thers
!elieve it *8 *= *5 *> *+ *8 > *8
)onAt
b
el
ie
v
e
it
88 80 8* 88 >8 08 3> 82
)onAt know *= 0* 03 *> *3 5= 3> 0*
Total *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++ *++
Eastly6 the respondents were asked about their perception of the 1rime MinisterAs recent call that she will
not resort to hartal when she will be in opposition. It is noted that the most significant proportion :82 per
cent; of the poor city dwellers across all 7ccupations do not have any faith in the 1rime MinisterAs
promise. Table# != also shows that only *8 per cent have faith in the 1MAs promise. This unfortunately6
reveals that the poor city dwellers6 from their e-perience do not have much of a faith on tall promises
made by the political leaders.
D% Conclusion
The survey has amply revealed some preliminary but key responses of the poor city dwellers on hartal
politics.
irstly6 most city dwellers do not support hartal because they suffer most in terms of economic loss and
income loss. They also witness a lot of damage to their properties due to hartal.
Secondly6 a proportion of poor city dwellers do participate in political activities but most of them do not
support any political party. Some of them receive money for participating in hartals6 meetings and
processions. !ut two third of them do not participate in these activities even after receiving the money.
Thirdly6 the poor in the city across all 7ccupations seem to have no faith in the tall promises of the
government. They do not believe even when the 1rime Minister has assured that when she will be in
opposition she wonAt resort to hartals. Moreover6 though the poor donAt support hartal they mostly blame
the government for hartal and related violence.
inally6 the poor overwhelmingly believe that parliament should be the appropriate forum for sorting out
political differences but they also do support that meetings4processions should be allowed to air the
political grievances.
Date of Publishing: 18 pril !""". #ater a dialogue was held on hartal at $%&DP auditoriu'( Dhaka(
)ointly organi*ed by De'ocracywatch and ActionAid Bangladesh on 10 May 2000