In the last two years, Bangladesh has experienced three governments, two elected and another as interim government but in every regime the people of Dhaka have faced and are still facing footpath encroachment by hawkers with the backing of extortion rackets in almost every area of Dhaka.
While talking with Dhaka Tribune, at least a dozen hawkers who have set up stalls along major roads in different parts of the city admitted they pay daily or monthly fees to individuals linked to local political groups or corrupt members of law enforcement to continue operating.
“Regardless of who is in power, whether it is led by Tarique Rahman, Sheikh Hasina or Muhammad Yunus, the extortion rackets always manage to find their people within the administration to run the illegal footpath businesses,” said a senior hawker in Gulistan who has been operating there for more than two decades.
As a result of the encroachments, pedestrians are often forced to walk on busy streets, exposing themselves to safety risks. The situation increases the likelihood of accidents and contributes to worsening traffic congestion.
Elderly people and persons with disabilities face the greatest difficulties due to obstructed walkways.
Experts also warn that the establishment of temporary markets on roads raises the risk of fire incidents. Most stalls are built using plastic, cloth and other flammable materials, and electrical connections are frequently installed in an unregulated manner.
Urban planners say the hawker issue in Dhaka has persisted for a long time. With millions of people commuting daily in the capital, ensuring planned pedestrian movement is essential. When roads and footpaths are occupied, it disrupts the functioning of the entire area. They say allocating designated spaces for hawkers could both protect their livelihoods and ensure smoother traffic movement.
Visits to areas including Mirpur, Farmgate, New Market and the Malibagh–Mouchak corridor revealed that temporary stalls occupy both footpaths and parts of roads from morning until late at night.
These stalls sell clothing, shoes, cosmetics, fruits, vegetables and other daily necessities, severely restricting pedestrian movement.
Pedestrians complain they cannot walk safely due to the encroachments and are often forced onto the road. The situation becomes even worse during Ramadan, when people return home from work ahead of iftar.
Traffic is also heavily affected, with vehicles, rickshaws and CNG-run auto-rickshaws often stuck for hours.
Local residents allege that hawkers continue operating through arrangements with influential individuals and some corrupt members of the administration.
In Mirpur, some of the busiest roads resemble temporary marketplaces rather than traffic routes. Large roadside bazaars sell items ranging from shoes and clothing to mobile accessories and electronics.
Small traders in Mirpur Sections 10, 1, 2, 11, 12 and 13 admitted paying extortion fees. Some blamed activists of the ruling party, while others accused associates of a local member of parliament. According to them, although extortion temporarily stopped after the national election, new groups began collecting money again at the start of Ramadan.
A trader near Hope Labe in Mirpur-10 said extortion has long been part of the system.
“Some collect money in the name of electricity bills, others in the name of an association. Since operating on the footpath is illegal, we are forced to pay,” he said.
In Farmgate, rows of stalls line both sides of the footpaths. Most vendors sell vegetables, fruits, children’s clothing and cosmetics. Many also place their vans directly on the road, leaving little space for pedestrians.As a result, a walk that should take two minutes can take five.
During a visit, a man named Alamin said he witnessed a rickshaw overturn while trying to pass through the crowded street. The passenger, who was carrying a one-year-old child, was injured and later taken to hospital.
A vegetable vendor admitted they must pay money to remain there but declined to say to whom or how much.
From Farmgate to the Panthapath signal, both sides of the footpaths are occupied by food stalls. Because it is Ramadan, many stalls are covered with curtains during the day, effectively blocking the entire walkway.
A portion of the road in the area has also been turned into a rickshaw garage, making both the road and the footpath difficult to use.
Locals claim these curtained areas are sometimes used at night for antisocial activities, including drug consumption.
Rickshaw driver Md Arman said people gather late at night to use drugs, adding that no one dares to stop them because of the backing of politically influential individuals.
Md Aslam Uddin, who operates a rickshaw garage in the area, said he pays Tk500 daily in extortion but declined to identify the collectors.
From the Panthapath signal through the furniture shop lane toward Kathalbagan, roadside stalls and vans frequently block the narrow road. During Ramadan, vendors also sell iftar items on the footpaths, leaving little space for pedestrians.
A similar situation exists in the New Market area. From New Market to Nilkhet, footpaths and portions of the roads are occupied by stalls from 10am until 10pm.
Pedestrian Alifa said she left work early hoping to reach home in time for iftar but was unable to walk through the crowded streets.
“Because of the traffic jam, I got down at Science Lab and tried to walk toward New Market. But the crowd was so overwhelming that walking was almost impossible. Authorities should take action,” she said.
The Malibagh–Mouchak area is also experiencing severe congestion ahead of Eid shopping. From Mouchak Market to the Malibagh rail gate, rows of temporary stalls occupy both footpaths and the road. Vendors sell sarees, three-piece suits, panjabis, children’s clothing, sandals, cosmetics, jewelry, bags and toys.
Pedestrian Dabir Hossain said there is no space left on the footpath, forcing people to walk on the road.
Another pedestrian, Amin, said the footpaths now appear to belong to hawkers rather than pedestrians.
Urban planning expert Dr Adil Mohammad Khan said the occupation of roads by hawkers is illegal and the networks behind it must be dismantled.
“Hawkers should be identified and brought under social safety net programmes. At the same time, the networks behind these activities must be identified and stopped,” he said.
Under the Road Transport Act 2018, the responsibility for keeping footpaths clear lies with the metropolitan police and city corporations.
When asked about the allegations of extortion and encroachment, authorities largely repeated previous statements.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Islam said that if any BNP leader or anyone else is found involved in extortion, action will be taken if evidence is provided.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mohammad Talebur Rahman said police do not collect money from hawkers.
“If we receive specific complaints of extortion, action will be taken. It is possible that extortionists are using the police’s name,” he said.
Officials of Dhaka South City Corporation said drives are regularly conducted to remove encroachments. However, they noted that the pressure of shoppers and the increased number of vendors ahead of Eid make enforcement difficult.
Residents believe that instead of periodic eviction drives before festivals, authorities need a sustainable and long-term solution to keep footpaths and roads accessible for pedestrians.