Hundreds of Illegal Shops Seize Roads and Footpaths, Turning Public Spaces Into an Extortion Racket

Sidewalks and roads around Motijheel Ideal School and College in the capital have been occupied by hundreds of makeshift shops and businesses, causing severe problems for pedestrians, students and guardians. A recent visit to the area found shops occupying large sections of the sidewalks in front of the school and nearby roads. Nurseries have also occupied parts of the sidewalks near T&T School and the government residential colony, placing plant tubs, seedlings, soil and other materials in pedestrian areas. In some places, goods have extended onto the road.

Private cars waiting for students occupy a large part of the road from morning until school hours end. The resulting congestion has narrowed the space available for pedestrians and increased the risk of accidents. Local traders, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that money is collected from the shops every day. They claimed the amount ranges from Tk 300 to Tk 800 per shop, while traders also allegedly have to pay a large one-time amount to set up a shop. They named Sabuj, Emon, Nurul Afsar, Faruk, Shahjalal Molla, Tanzil, Shaheen and Jewel as people allegedly involved in collecting the money. These allegations could not be independently verified.

A guardian,Ms. Salma Akhter, said, “Walking on the road with students is risky. There are many cars parked in front of the school, so there is no safe place for pedestrians to walk.” Professor Dr Adil Muhammad Khan, executive director of the Institute of Planning and Development (IPD), said eviction drives against hawkers repeatedly fail because the sidewalks are occupied again. He said action should also be taken against those who control and profit from the hawkers. Local residents have demanded an investigation into the alleged collection of money and legal action against those involved.