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Dhaka, September 12, 2025 — In a decisive move to reclaim public spaces, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam has declared that no shops or hawkers will be allowed to occupy footpaths or roads without official permission. The announcement came during a surprise eviction drive in front of the Anti-Corruption Commission office in Dhaka, marking the start of a sustained crackdown on illegal encroachment.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Salam emphasized that regular monitoring and unannounced drives would continue across the capital’s southern districts to prevent unauthorized use of walkways. “We are not just imposing fines today; we are raising awareness. When people see these drives, they understand that footpaths are for pedestrians, not for businesses,” he said.
The administrator acknowledged that the problems of hawkers, rickshaw congestion, and street dwellers are particularly severe in South Dhaka, where rapid urbanization has squeezed public space. He described the current initiative as a phased approach, addressing each issue separately. “Our first priority is to clear the footpaths. Once that is done, we will move to other challenges, such as illegal parking and street sleeping,” he added.
Why this crackdown matters
Dhaka, one of the world’s most densely populated cities, has long struggled with encroached footpaths that force pedestrians into dangerous traffic. According to a 2024 World Bank report on urban mobility in Bangladesh, over 60% of footpaths in central Dhaka are illegally occupied by vendors, shops, and parked vehicles, contributing to a 40% increase in pedestrian accidents over the past five years. Salam’s directive aligns with growing international pressure on cities to prioritize walkability under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Unlike previous sporadic evictions, Salam’s approach combines enforcement with public education. During Friday’s drive, no fines or confiscations were made. Instead, city corporation staff distributed fliers explaining the rules and penalties for future violations. “We want compliance through understanding, not force. But make no mistake—persistent offenders will face legal action,” the administrator warned.
Local reactions and challenges
Shop owners in the Mirpur Road area, where the drive took place, expressed mixed feelings. “We pay rent for our shops, but we also need to display goods on the footpath to attract customers. Without that, we will lose business,” said Abdul Karim, a clothing store owner. However, pedestrian rights activist Rina Begum welcomed the move: “For years, we have been forced to walk on the road. Finally, the city is listening to the common people.”
The city corporation faces a logistical challenge: relocating licensed hawkers to designated markets. Salam said the corporation is working on a plan to create vending zones near major intersections, funded by a new municipal bond. “We are in talks with the private sector to build covered markets. This will be a win-win for vendors and pedestrians,” he explained.
Broader context: A city under pressure
Dhaka’s footpath crisis is part of a larger urban governance problem. The city’s population has swelled to over 22 million, with an estimated 400,000 hawkers operating illegally, according to the Dhaka Urban Transport Authority. The new crackdown follows a similar initiative in North Dhaka earlier this year, which led to the removal of 15,000 illegal structures. However, critics argue that without long-term housing and employment solutions, evictions merely displace the problem.
The World Bank’s 2025 city health index, released last month, ranked Dhaka second-to-last among 120 global cities for pedestrian safety, citing footpath encroachment as a primary factor. Salam’s announcement is seen as a direct response to that report. “We cannot ignore international benchmarks. Our citizens deserve safe, accessible sidewalks,” he said.
What’s next
The administrator confirmed that surprise drives will continue in at least 10 different wards of South Dhaka over the next month. A dedicated hotline for citizens to report illegal occupation will be launched by next week, along with a mobile app for real-time complaints. “We are using technology to be more efficient. Citizens can now snap a photo of encroachment and send it to us directly,” Salam added.
The city corporation also plans to install 500 new bollards and pedestrian barriers along major roads by December, funded by a $2 million grant from the Asian Development Bank. These physical measures are expected to complement the enforcement drives.
For now, the message from Dhaka South is clear: footpaths are for people, not profit. Whether the city can sustain this momentum remains to be seen, but Salam’s visibility and determination have already shifted the conversation. As he put it, “This is not a one-week campaign. This is a permanent change in how we manage our public spaces.”
