Footpaths Must Be Kept Free of Encroachment

The footpaths of the capital Dhaka were built for people to walk without trouble. But for a long time, a large part of them has been occupied. In some places hawkers run shops. In some places permanent businesses keep their goods on the footpath. In others, tea stalls and many kinds of temporary structures have taken the space. So even with footpaths in place, ordinary people have to walk on the main road. This increases traffic jams, creates the risk of accidents and adds to the suffering of city dwellers.

In this situation, the move by Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation to free the footpaths is surely positive. The lead news of the Daily Inqilab the day before yesterday showed the picture after the eviction drives of the two city corporations. It shows a clear difference between the two areas. Under Dhaka North City Corporation, the roads and footpaths under the metro rail line at Mirpur 10, Kazipara and Shewrapara have been freed. Pedestrians now feel relief when they walk there.

In the past, shops, tables, benches and heaps of goods lay in those places. Now much of that space is open. In some places, new trees have also made the area look better. On the other hand, under Dhaka South City Corporation, footpaths in Paltan, Gulistan, North South Road and other areas have been occupied again after the eviction. Yet people expected from both drives that they would finally get free from their long suffering.

Some people criticize the eviction drives. But pedestrians in the areas concerned feel relief. When footpaths are free, it does not only add space for walking. The city also becomes cleaner and more beautiful. So we should not see this move as a short term drive. We should see it as a needed step to establish the rights of citizens. A footpath is not the private property of any person, shop or group. It is a place for the public to walk.

But past experience has shown again and again that keeping footpaths free is harder than running an eviction drive. Eviction on one side and reoccupation on the other, this cat and mouse game is very old. During a drive, shops are removed. The footpath stays clean for a few days. Then it goes back to its old state. This costs the administration money and time, but the suffering of citizens does not end for good.

It is a hopeful sign that footpaths in several areas of Dhaka North are still free after the eviction. But the reoccupation in several areas of the South raises questions about how long this move will last. We cannot let this continue. An elected and popular government is now in power. People expect the government to ensure the rights of citizens under the law and rules. They expect it to bring the move of the two city corporations to a real result.

There are allegations that influential people, people with political identity and local criminal groups are involved in the occupation of footpaths. In many areas, people have long alleged that hawkers pay a one time sum and regular extortion money to set up shops. There are also allegations that some dishonest members of law enforcement agencies help run this activity. The authorities must check whether these allegations are true. They must identify those responsible and bring them under the law.

If anyone from the ruling party is involved, the authorities must take lawful action against that person too. Keeping footpaths free is not only the duty of the city corporations. Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the traffic department and other related agencies must also work together. Regular monitoring must find where reoccupation is happening, who is setting up shops and who is collecting money.

Many people sell goods on footpaths to earn a living. So along with eviction, authorities can arrange planned hawker markets at suitable places. They can give hawkers a chance to trade for fixed hours. They can also make sure pedestrians can move without obstruction. But arranging another way to earn a living does not mean anyone gets the right to occupy public walking space illegally. The law must apply equally to everyone.

The problem of footpath occupation is not limited to the capital Dhaka. The same situation exists in other cities and towns of the country, including Chattogram, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi. In some places shops sit on the footpath. In some places businesses keep their goods there. In others, parked cars or other structures block pedestrians. So we cannot limit this issue to scattered eviction drives. We need a long term plan and regular monitoring.

An unblocked footpath is a must for the safe movement of children, women, elderly people and people with disabilities. For a wheelchair user, or for a parent walking with a child, it is very risky to avoid an occupied footpath and walk on the main road. When the footpath is closed, pedestrians step onto the road. When customers crowd in front of hawkers, the usable part of the road also gets smaller. In this way, footpath occupation brings traffic jams, accidents and public suffering.

So Dhaka North and South City Corporations must continue the eviction drives. They must also mark the fixed boundary of the footpath in every area. They must make sure of regular inspection after eviction, quick action against reoccupation, and an effective way to take complaints from citizens. They must also take action against everyone who blocks movement by keeping shop goods, chairs, tables, building materials or any other structure on the footpath. There is no scope to evict only hawkers and spare other occupiers.

The most important thing is that the move to keep footpaths free must not become a show. The authorities cannot think their duty is over after one eviction. They must make sure that a footpath cleaned today is still fit for pedestrians tomorrow. Keeping footpaths free in the capital and in all cities and towns of the country is the duty of the government. People want a clean, beautiful and walkable city. The government must take all needed steps to meet that hope.