Walking comfortably on Dhaka sidewalks still a daydream

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Governments come and go, but the sidewalks of Dhaka’s roads and highways remain occupied. Even multiple High Court rulings and directives to free the sidewalks have been widely ignored. Most of the sidewalks continue to be occupied by encroachers, and the relevant authorities have shown no effective or strict initiative to remove them.

There was never a way for Dhaka residents to walk freely on the sidewalks, and the situation hasn’t changed.

A visit to Gulistan, Paltan, Rayerbazar, Baitul Mukarram, New Market, and Mirpur areas reveals that sidewalks are occupied by mobile vendors, tea stalls, goods from nearby shops, and in some places, construction materials. Pedestrians have no room to walk or use these sidewalks.

Sources said that around seven thousand shops are set up on sidewalks in just the New Market and Baitul Mukarram areas. Of these, approximately 2,500 shops are occupying the sidewalks around Baitul Mukarram. Hundreds of shops have also taken over the sidewalks of Begum Rokeya Sarani in Mirpur.

On the New Market-Science Lab road, walking is nearly impossible due to the shops. Pedestrians can neither walk on the streets nor use the sidewalks. Some sidewalks are lined with shops, some piled with construction materials, while others are left abandoned after long-term digging. In some areas, abandoned vehicles are parked on the sidewalks. Motorcycles, rickshaws, and auto-rickshaws often ride onto the sidewalks, and sometimes even private cars are seen parked there.
Those most affected by these encroachments are busy workers, students, women, and children, who face constant difficulty and frequent accidents while navigating these areas.

Md. Arif Hossain, who runs a clothing store on the sidewalk in Mirpur-10, told Views Bangladesh that, "We are running our businesses on the sidewalks by paying a fixed amount of rent. People are walking on the sidewalks and shopping at our stores. Yes, there may be some inconvenience, but there's nothing we can do."
Monir Hossain, who runs a fruit shop on the sidewalk in front of Fulbaria Market in Gulistan, said, "I set up this shop on the sidewalk out of necessity to support my family." When asked if he realizes that it causes public suffering, he responded, "Yes, it does cause some trouble, but I’m not the only one doing this. Look at how many hundreds of shops are here on the sidewalk."

Meanwhile, sidewalks in front of key locations like Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority, Master Point Shopping Complex, Uttara Sector 4, the area adjacent to the Airport Railway Station, the APBN Headquarters, and RAB-1, are in a poor state. From Azampur to House Building and Abdullahpur, the sidewalks on both sides of the road have deteriorated and merged into the street. In some places, there are no visible traces of the sidewalk.

City planner architect Iqbal Habib believes that the increasing traffic jams and accidents are directly related to the encroachment of sidewalks in the capital. He told Views Bangladesh, “Most of the sidewalks are occupied by small and large businesses, making pedestrian movement difficult.”

He added, "Sidewalks are meant to provide pedestrians with safe passage. Wide sidewalks reduce traffic jams and accidents. In this busy city, walking short distances is essential to reduce traffic congestion, but with the sidewalks occupied, pedestrians have no place to walk, not even enough space to put a foot down.

“To reduce traffic jams and accidents in the city, it is essential to repair the sidewalks and make them walkable. If sidewalks are made usable for citizens, it will greatly reduce congestion and accidents in this city,” advised Iqbal Habib.

The High Court issued two rulings, in 2001 and 2012, to free the sidewalks of Dhaka from encroachment, but they remain unimplemented to this day. In the ruling of February 11, 2001, a High Court bench directed that the capital’s sidewalks and pathways be made usable for the public and kept clean and open for pedestrians. Another bench, on February 26, 2012, ordered the removal of encroachments from the sidewalks between Zero Point and Sadarghat.

Furthermore, on April 29 this year, a High Court bench consisting of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Md. Bazlur Rahman demanded a list of those involved in the occupation, renting, and sale of sidewalks in the city. The court directed the Home or Local Government Secretary to submit the list in an affidavit and also asked what actions had been taken against those involved. However, the authorities have yet to provide a response.

Supreme Court Senior Lawyer and President of the environmental organization Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, Advocate Manzill Murshid, commented that "due to the lack of implementation of the High Court’s rulings and directives, the sidewalks remain under the control of encroachers."

Advocate Manzill Murshid told Views Bangladesh, "Almost all of the sidewalks in the capital are occupied by vendors, leading to severe public suffering. The situation is even worse in Motijheel, Gulistan, Paltan, and Sadarghat. Although the High Court has issued multiple orders and directives to free the sidewalks, the picture has changed little due to the indifference of the authorities, even with changes in government."

He expressed doubt about "when the sidewalks of Dhaka will finally be made walkable for the city’s residents."

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Part: 2

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Part: 3

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