Dear sir,
Sidewalks are mainly made for people to walk safely. But in Dhaka city, this idea has become almost meaningless. On most roads in the capital, sidewalks are taken over by street vendors, shopkeepers, or construction materials. Where people are supposed to walk freely, now we see fruit baskets, clothing stalls, plastic goods, tea stands, or building materials. Because of this, people are forced to walk on the main roads with moving vehicles, which increases the risk of accidents.
This problem is not only in Dhaka. Cities like Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and even small towns face the same issue. Sidewalks are no longer for pedestrians-they are now under the full control of vendors and illegal occupiers. Especially in busy areas like Gulistan, Farmgate, New Market, or Mirpur, the sidewalks are not walkable for common people. These places have turned into temporary markets where vendors are more in number than walkers.
Of course, we must also think about the vendors' livelihood. But the safety and rights of pedestrians are also the duty of the state. Sometimes, the government or local authorities run drives to remove illegal stalls, but these are not long-lasting. After a few days, the same problem returns. This happens mainly because of political support, weak laws, and lack of serious action by the authorities.
Sidewalks are not just for beauty-they are a basic right for people. So to solve this problem, we need a combined effort. Vendors should be given proper places to do business, city corporations must check and repair sidewalks regularly, and people must be made aware. Only with honest work from the authorities and good planning can we bring back safe and walkable sidewalks for all.
Mst Mishkatul Islam Mumu
Student, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Jagannath University
