Hawkers take over New Market foot overbridge within six months
It has not even been six months since its inauguration. Yet the foot overbridge has already been taken over by hawkers. Picture: Agamir Somoy
The new foot overbridge at New Market was inaugurated on February 28 this year. At the inauguration, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said, “No illegal hawkers or shops will be allowed on the bridge.” However, six months have not yet passed since its inauguration. Instead of being used by pedestrians, the bridge has already been taken over by hawkers.
During an onsite visit on Thursday, it was found that around 15 to 20 hawkers had set up temporary shops on both sides of the bridge. They were selling various products, including children’s toys, household items, mobile phone covers, chargers, cosmetics, spicy puffed rice and various types of food.
Most of the space meant for pedestrians has been occupied by the shops. Only a narrow section in the middle remains open. As a result, pedestrians have to walk shoulder to shoulder. They often have to stop to allow people coming from the opposite direction to pass. Elderly people, children and those carrying bags are facing daily difficulties because of the situation.
Pedestrians said they face difficulties walking across the overbridge because of the hawkers. A pedestrian named Afsana Akter said, “At first, there were no hawkers on the bridge. But within a few months, the hawkers started setting up their shops again. The hawkers have occupied both sides of the bridge in such a way that the walking path has become extremely narrow. If someone stops to buy something from those shops, the entire path gets blocked. Then people have to stand and wait to get across.”
A hawker there, Saiful Islam, said, “I do business here to support my family. When there are drives to clear the sidewalks, we have to look for another place. If you do not allow us to sit anywhere, how are we supposed to survive? We have to be provided with a place to sit somewhere.”
A New Market businessman who did not wish to be named said, “More hawkers came to the bridge after the sidewalk hawkers were evicted. During the first three months, there were four or five temporary shops, and the number gradually increased. Now the bridge is full of hawkers. They were able to come onto the bridge by paying higher extortion money. They have to pay regular extortion money for this. That money goes to people at various levels.”
The old foot overbridge at New Market had also been completely occupied by hawkers. It was in a dilapidated condition and was not suitable for use. Overall, pedestrians did not even want to use the bridge. Therefore, to reduce traffic congestion and disorder, authorities took the initiative to completely demolish the old bridge and construct a new one. In January 2023, contractor Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited, or DEW, began construction at a cost of Tk 97.7 million. The bridge is 42 meters long and 20 feet wide, and construction was completed in October 2025.
An escalator was also installed to make movement easier for pedestrians, particularly elderly people and children. Although the bridge was inaugurated on February 28, hawkers have already started occupying the space. The assurance given by the Bridges Minister at the inauguration ceremony has not been upheld.
Regarding the repeated return of hawkers, Dhaka South Chief Engineer Nur Azizur Rahman told Agamir Somoy, “We are conducting mobile court drives regularly. But within half an hour of being evicted, the hawkers set up their shops again. The government has taken an initiative to identify a place for the hawkers. Once the process of relocating them to Dhanmondi is completed, effective eviction drives can be conducted later.”
Urban planner Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan said, “First, we have to understand the purpose of the project. Was it built for hawkers or for pedestrians to cross the road? If it was constructed for the convenience of pedestrians, allowing hawkers to set up shops there will inevitably create problems for pedestrian movement.”
He said, “The number of hawkers in the area must be taken into consideration before planning. There are many hawkers in the New Market area. The number of hawkers in that area must be considered. If the hawkers are not taken into account, the foot overbridge will remain in a disorderly state. It will not be possible to bring it into an orderly condition even by conducting repeated drives.”
“If they can be brought under the jurisdiction of an organization or rehabilitated separately, an organized solution can be achieved. Otherwise, the sidewalks and overbridges across the city will remain in a disorderly state,” Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan added.
