Dramatic improvements in traffic and pedestrian movement in Gulistan following a recent eviction drive are now up against renewed risks, as reports emerge of attempts to reoccupy cleared footpaths and roads.
Md Jahirul Islam, chief executive officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), said businesses had long occupied footpaths and roads illegally by setting up floating shops and temporary structures, causing public suffering.
“Now, under the supervision of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the city corporation, these encroachers have been evicted and the footpaths have been freed,” he said.
“Our eviction operations will continue regularly. City dwellers have already started to benefit. If footpaths can be kept free, both public suffering and traffic congestion can be reduced,” he added.
Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of DMP Md Anisur Rahman acknowledged the improvement but warned of ongoing challenges.
“Due to the clearing of the footpaths, traffic congestion in the capital has decreased significantly. However, we are observing that while we clear footpaths on one hand, they are being reoccupied on the other. We will try to maintain our campaign through regular monitoring,” he said.
“On this road in Gulistan, it was never possible to walk easily. As the footpaths on both sides were occupied, there was no way to walk on the sidewalks either. Due to such unbearable traffic congestion, it used to take more than an hour to go from Gulistan to Sadarghat by bus. Now it takes only about ten minutes,” said Arafat Rahman Shanto, a student of the 18th batch of Jagannath University.
“There are no longer many illegal shops on both sides of the road, and one can walk comfortably,” he added.
Shanto added that Gulistan’s footpaths had long been under permanent occupation, with previous eviction drives yielding only temporary results. “Even now, many are attempting to reoccupy. Already, some have set up floating shops. The police should monitor the area regularly so that Gulistan is not occupied illegally again in any way,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Irfan Ahmed Fahim, convener of the Chhatra Dal at Kabi Nazrul College, said the clearing of Gulistan’s footpaths has significantly reduced traffic congestion in Dhaka.
“If Gulistan and Dholaikhal can be kept free of encroachment, the suffering of movement for people in Old Dhaka will decrease. If this trend continues, city dwellers will be able to move around comfortably,” he said, adding that alternative arrangements should be made for those who previously earned a living through footpath-based businesses.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched a simultaneous drive to free footpaths and roads from encroachment in several areas, including Gulistan, Dholaikhal, Uttara, Shanir Akhra and Dhanmondi Kolabagan. The five-day drive continued until Sunday, bringing noticeable relief to city residents.
On the ground, Gulistan’s typically congested roads were found to be significantly clearer, with few visible encroachers. Although some mobile shops remain, the footpaths are largely free, allowing pedestrians to avoid walking on main roads. The area’s once-familiar traffic congestion has also eased considerably.
Tamanna Haque, a political science student at Suhrawardy College, said she recently traveled from Shantinagar to Ray Saheb Bazar in Old Dhaka in just 25 minutes.
“The traffic jam in Gulistan ruined three years of my honors life. It used to take one and a half to two hours to reach college from home. Now I can reach in just 20–25 minutes. This has been possible due to a freeing of the footpaths from encroachers,” she said.
She, however, cautioned that similar drives in the past failed to produce lasting results.
“Within a few days, the footpaths were occupied again. This time, the authorities must remain alert to prevent a repeat,” she added.
