Crackdown on Illegal Footpath Encroachment Must Continue

The two Dhaka city corporations are conducting eviction drives to free footpaths from illegal occupation. During these operations, law enforcement agencies often face resistance and sometimes violent clashes. On September 30, a major clash broke out between hawkers and law enforcement personnel when the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) attempted to clear illegally occupied footpaths in the Mirpur-10 area. During the clash, miscreants set fire to three vehicles.

Later, the DNCC administrator visited the scene and led the eviction drive. He announced that the operation would continue and alleged that supporters of fascism had carried out the attack. He firmly stated that action would be taken wherever footpaths were occupied illegally. He also announced plans to clear footpaths in Farmgate and other areas. The Farmgate footpaths have since been cleared. Residents and pedestrians there say they can now move around safely and without difficulty.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is also conducting operations to remove illegal occupiers from footpaths. Both city corporations are going beyond eviction drives by decorating walls beside footpaths with images of the July uprising, portraits of prominent cultural figures and graffiti. These artworks have attracted attention and praise from pedestrians and social media users.

For years, eviction drives have been carried out in Dhaka and other divisional cities to ensure that people can walk comfortably on footpaths and to reduce traffic congestion. However, these efforts have rarely produced lasting results. Footpaths are often occupied again shortly after evictions, turning the process into a recurring game of occupation and removal.

Footpaths are meant for pedestrians to walk safely, not for shops and businesses. Such widespread occupation is not a normal practice in other parts of the world. In Bangladesh, however, the illegal occupation of footpaths in the name of employment has become deeply rooted. This practice cannot be allowed to continue for generations.

To support genuine hawkers’ livelihoods, the government has arranged holiday markets at designated locations on the two weekly holidays. Similar arrangements exist in developed countries such as the United Kingdom, where street vendors are not allowed to set up stalls wherever they wish. They operate in designated places and grounds, and must obtain street-trading licences from local councils. Vendors who set up within seven metres of a footpath can face fines of up to £1,000, and their goods may be confiscated.

Dhaka has very little road space compared with its size. International standards suggest that roads should account for at least 25 per cent of a city’s total area, but the figure for Dhaka is only around 8 to 9 per cent. Millions of vehicles use this limited road network, while about 80 per cent of the city’s footpaths are reportedly under illegal occupation. In some areas, hawkers occupy nearly half of the main road, while illegal parking further worsens congestion. As a result, pedestrians have little room to move freely.
Urban planners say clearing illegally occupied footpaths is essential to making traffic congestion more manageable and ensuring safe pedestrian movement. If the situation continues, there may soon be no area of the capital free from unauthorised hawker stalls. Such conditions are unacceptable in a modern city.

Removing hawkers from footpaths could also help reduce several forms of crime. It could curb extortion and illegal occupation, stop electricity theft through unauthorised connections and save public funds. Residents would be able to move around more comfortably, while walking regularly could improve their physical and mental well-being.

However, every attempt to remove hawkers raises concerns about their livelihoods. Political arguments are often made against eviction drives, and the need to rehabilitate hawkers is also raised. Taking these concerns into account, the Local Government Division introduced the Dhaka City Hawker Management Policy 2026 on May 5.

The policy aims to bring hawkers under an organised system while ensuring uninterrupted movement for pedestrians. Its key provisions include a registration fee of Tk 5,000 and a monthly fee of Tk 3,000 for each hawker. Registered hawkers must be at least 18 years old and will receive digital identity cards containing QR codes that specify their designated business locations and operating hours.

At least 1.5 metres of footpath space must remain clear for pedestrians. Holiday markets will operate in designated areas from 7am to 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays. Night markets will operate in commercial areas from 6pm to 10pm, after regular office hours. Hawkers operating without licences or outside their designated areas may be evicted without prior notice, have their registration cancelled and face legal action.

However, a writ petition challenging the policy’s legality has been filed with the High Court, leaving the legal and administrative framework for hawker rehabilitation uncertain. Urban planners believe the problem could be partly resolved if the government’s rehabilitation policy is properly implemented. It could bring hawkers under a regulated system and generate revenue for the government. As the matter is now before the court, its decision remains to be seen.

At the same time, Dhaka’s limited road and footpath space leaves little room for hawker stalls on pedestrian walkways. Illegal occupation prevents pedestrians from walking comfortably and contributes to traffic congestion. The eviction drives launched by the two city corporations must therefore continue to free footpaths from illegal occupation.