Peddlers' Pavement

Dhaka north and south city corporations laid down the new footpaths with much fanfare, promising pedestrians beautified paths without impediments. However, the hawkers who were evicted from the pavements have now returned. Instead of being used by pedestrians, the new footpaths are controlled by hawkers and musclemen. Some have sand piled or bricks stacked up. The pavements are also being used as parking spaces and makeshift shopping centres. In fact, the footpaths are being used for many purposes instead of the one they were meant for. With the authorities yet to take action against such infractions, pedestrians are once again forced to the road, sometimes in front of traffic. The pictures were taken from Dhanmondi, Farmgate, Bijoynagar, Shantinagar, Hazaribagh, Bangabandhu Avenue and Moghbazar last week.

Photo: Anisur Rahman