One of the more persistent issues that plagues our capital city is the illegal occupation of footpaths by small-time hawkers and businesses. These businesses are generally set up on stools and makeshift bamboo huts, making it difficult for pedestrians to actually walk on the sections of the roads that are dedicated for pedestrians.
Dhaka’s streets have continued to fall victim to the encroachment of hawkers and street vendors, despite numerous promises from both the DSCC and DNCC, but they are hardly the ones at fault here. According to a recent Dhaka Tribune report, a footpath flower seller in Gulshan claimed that they pay for their occupancy of the footpath but refused to disclose who the money goes to.
It is not out of the bounds of reality that our footpaths being so cluttered is just another manifestation of the unchecked levels of corruption plaguing both our administration and law enforcement.
These structures are blatantly illegal. Due to them being occupied by these establishments, pedestrians have to walk on the section reserved for vehicles, which not only worsens traffic congestion but also puts their lives at risk. In some cases, the outer edges of the road are dug up, forcing people to walk through the middle of these roads, which is extremely dangerous.
And while the DNCC often carries out eviction drives, clearly the problem requires a more sustainable solution -- even when hawkers are driven away, they return within a couple of days as if nothing has happened. The best path to take would be to designate community spaces where shops like this can be set up so that footpaths can stay clear for what they were designed -- the pedestrians.
Sunday, July 19, 2026
