Dhaka footbridges lose space to hawkers and illegal occupants

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Many footbridges across Dhaka have been taken over by hawkers, beggars, homeless people and suspected drug users, forcing pedestrians to cross busy roads at street level.

Footbridges in Farmgate, Banani, Mohakhali and Nabisco were found heavily encroached, with shops blocking entrances and stairways. Farmgate’s four-way footbridge, built at a cost of Tk 20 crore, now has nearly 50 shops selling various goods.

Authorities conduct periodic eviction drives, but hawkers often return soon afterwards. Urban planners say the lack of designated spaces for informal businesses, weak management and poor planning are behind the recurring problem.

At the Banani Sainik Club footbridge, escalators have remained out of service for months, while the Nabisco footbridge is largely unused despite heavy pedestrian traffic.

Experts also questioned the locations of some footbridges, saying they were built where pedestrian demand was low. They recommended proper pedestrian-flow studies, better maintenance, regulated vending spaces and, where appropriate, improved traffic signals and controlled crossings instead of building more footbridges.