Hawkers choke Dhaka South's only escalator footbridge

Dhaka South City Corporation's only escalator-equipped footbridge, built at New Market for Tk9.77 crore, is now occupied by hawkers, leaving little room for pedestrians.

Hawkers began occupying the bridge within four and a half months of its inauguration on 28 February. At the opening ceremony, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said no illegal hawkers or shops would be allowed there, but the assurance has not been upheld.

A TBS visit last Friday found around 15-20 hawkers operating temporary stalls along both sides of the walkway. They were selling mobile phone covers, chargers, cosmetics, children's toys, household goods, jhalmuri, fried food and other items.

The stalls occupied much of the walking space, leaving only a narrow passage in the middle. Pedestrians had to move close to one another and often stop to let people coming from the opposite direction pass. Older people, children and those carrying bags faced greater difficulty.

The escalator remained operational, but shops had also occupied parts of the regular staircase on the other side, making it harder for pedestrians to reach the bridge.

Many of the hawkers moved there after Dhaka South drives evicted them from footpaths in different parts of New Market.

A hawker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "We trade here to earn a living. When drives are conducted on the footpaths, we have to find another place. We would not need to sit on the bridge if we had a designated place to do business."

Pedestrians said the occupation had made the bridge difficult to use. Shahinur Begum told TBS that the footbridge was meant to provide a safe crossing, but hawkers had taken up much of the walking space on both sides.

"Even reaching the bridge is difficult because people begging sit on the stairs and sometimes grab pedestrians by the legs. As a result, many are forced to cross the road below despite the risk," she said.

Another pedestrian, Robiul Islam, alleged that the hawkers were able to move onto the bridge after being evicted from nearby footpaths because they had backing and paid regular extortion money.

"Without such backing, they could not keep returning to public spaces. They have to pay regularly, and the money goes to people at different levels," he said.

Built under Dhaka South supervision along the Mirpur Road corridor, the 42-metre-long and 20-foot-wide bridge was completed in October 2025 after construction began in January 2023.

Urban planner Adil Muhammad Khan said the occupation of the nearly Tk10 crore bridge so soon after its construction was undermining the purpose of the public investment.

He alleged that an organised group was allowing hawkers to occupy the bridge in exchange for money. He called for the group to be identified and punished, rather than limiting action to the eviction of hawkers.

Asked about the occupation, Dhaka South Chief Engineer Noor Azizur Rahman said the corporation had conducted several drives with police support against hawkers in New Market and other areas since the current government took office.

"No drive has yet been conducted on this footbridge. We are now aware of the situation and will take action there," he said.

Rahman said regular mobile courts and eviction drives were continuing, but hawkers often returned or moved to other public spaces after being removed.

He said the bridge was built to ensure the safe movement of pedestrians. Dhaka's large population and limited infrastructure created challenges for urban management, but the city corporation was working to address them, he added.

"A coordinated effort is needed for a lasting solution," Rahman said.