Many footpaths and roadside spaces, particularly in the older part of the capital, are kept occupied by illegal street vendors causing immense difficulties in movement by pedestrians and vehicles.
Attempts have been made to evict the vendors at various times, but the eviction campaign has never been successful, alleged general sufferers. There are allegations of extortion by hired goons of the local political leaders and also local police officials.
It is learnt that the shopkeepers in front of the footpath also realize money from these vendors. In some cases, linemen also hands over the money. The traders on the footpath said that the local leaders realize money. Some vendors also said that they have to pay separately to police to allow them to continue such illegal business.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Newmarket Police Station Aminul Islam told Bangladesh Post, “We are conducting regular operations against extortionists and those who are illegally setting up food business on the footpath. Because this area is a busy business site and also important. Many people come here every day for various purposes. This operation is being carried out for the convenience of the pedestrians and it will continue.”
Unofficial surveys show that 37.2 per cent of Dhaka's footpaths are occupied by such vendors. All those who are doing business occupying roadside spaces are said to be influential. As a result, ordinary people do not say anything out of fear, and those who are responsible for keeping them free from encroachment also stay away. A group of local leaders complained that extortion is going on with the help of some influential political leaders. Vendors said that the extortion fees vary from place to place depending on the spot or position of the vending location.
It is learnt that extortion fees in some places are fixed at Tk 100 for every 6 square feet of space. An unofficial estimate says that there are some five to eight lakh vendors who regularly occupy roadside spaces heavily contributing to traffic jams.
Dhaka University student Arifur Rahman said that the footpath is now occupied by street vendors, illegal stalls and food shops. We can't walk on the sidewalk while walking to campus in the morning. Roads are dangerous due to reckless driving.” he said.
According to the accident research department of BUET, 43 per cent of people who lost their lives on the road were pedestrians. All of them were forced to walk on the roads instead of on the sidewalk just because the street vendors keep most of the footpaths occupied hardly leaving any space to walk. The main reason for this is the lack of supervision by law enforcers who refuse to evict the vendors.
Many traffic police also agree that the main reason for the traffic jams in many parts of the city is that people are walking on the main road instead of using the footpath. Due to this, the driving spaces become narrower.
Various private research organizations say that the one of the main reasons for Dhaka's traffic congestion is vendors occupying footpath and on many occasions roadsides spaces as well.
Any smart city needs 25 per cent of roads according to its size and land area. But Dhaka city is far behind from that point of view. Because the area of the main roads of this city is only 3 per cent. And there is only 7 per cent of all roads including various alleys. In other words, there is not even one-third of the required roads in Dhaka.
