Vendors occupy city footpaths, no space for pedestrians

Syed Shemul Parvez :
Most of the footpaths of the capital city are fully occupied by the traders including various shops and tea stalls, leaving no space for pedestrians.

Traders have even opened fast food shops in the middle of the road.

Almost all the wards of the capital have the same picture and situation.

Whoever owns the shop, it occupies the front of the pavement.

Traders are sitting on the pavement with their products.

“Another name for public nuisance is sidewalk encroachment, they lease twenty feet, occupy thirty feet,” agitated pedestrian said.

According to the sources, most of the roadsides are mainly occupied by the local powerful leaders in collusion with the law enforcers.

During a visit to the area, it is seen on the spot that some makeshift Birani Ghar (hotels) have been established on the road sides of the Dhakeshwari Mondir area under Lalbagh of the capital.

A huge number of people gather there in the evening along with their private vehicles.

As a result, pedestrians including various vehicles cannot move properly due to insufficient space.

When asked, locals of the area, reluctant to be named, told The New Nation that these shops are mainly maintained by the local leaders of the ruling party in collusion with police.

Meanwhile, the sidewalk shopkeeper says, “If the big leaders didn’t allow us to sit, would we be able to sit!” The victims say that smooth movement on the streets of the capital has become dangerous.

They often face accidents while walking in the middle of the road as the footpath is occupied.

“The shops are sitting on the sidewalk, the disabled are far away, even normal people have no place to walk freely”.

“From the police administration, everyone knows this, but no one pays attention to this problem.

“said another pedestrian.
Somewhere, different types of delicious food are being fried in hot oil in the middle of the pavement.

People are walking on the road with great risk.

There is no end to the complaints of people returning to the destination of the capital.

In this regard, when tried to contact with Jafar Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of DMP Lalbagh zone, he couldn’t be reached.