DNCC Must End the Cycle of Eviction and Reoccupation

The rapid return of illegal occupation along Shah Ali Mazar Road in Mirpur 1, just days after an eviction drive, exposes the Dhaka North City Corporation’s (DNCC) persistent failure to manage public spaces. Repeated operations have continuously failed to achieve even the most basic goal of keeping footpaths consistently clear. As a recent photograph in this newspaper vividly captures, we find it simply unacceptable that authorities claim success by clearing streets for a few hours while allowing total disorder to return. Against this backdrop, this recurring cycle raises serious questions about political interference, administrative accountability and local extortion networks.

The pattern, however, is not confined to Mirpur 1. In areas such as Gulistan, Motijheel, New Market, Nilkhet and Shahbagh, encroachment remains a permanent reality despite periodic clearance efforts. This points to a wider failure of urban management, where authorities remove visible obstructions without establishing a system to prevent their return. Weak follow-up and poor coordination inevitably contribute to this cycle, while allegations of extortion and protection by local power brokers warrant immediate investigation, as illegal occupation becomes entrenched when powerful actors profit from it. Concurrently, the severe shortage of properly managed vending areas makes the issue even harder to resolve without dedicated spatial planning.

Moreover, the consequences reach far beyond blocked footpaths and physical obstructions. When pedestrians are forced onto busy roads, accident risks skyrocket, traffic gridlock intensifies, and daily travel becomes a severe hazard, particularly for children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Legitimate businesses also suffer when unmonitored traders occupy pavements without meeting the same financial obligations, while repeated eviction drives consume public money without delivering lasting results. More importantly, when authorities consistently fail to sustain their own enforcement, citizens lose all confidence in the rule of law.

The DNCC must therefore measure success by whether footpaths remain clear over time, not by how many eviction drives it conducts. Every operation should be followed by regular inspections, clear monitoring responsibilities and prompt action against renewed encroachment. Nevertheless, removing hawkers alone will not suffice, as the corporation must also establish suitable vending areas and allocate them transparently, giving small traders a lawful way to earn a living without obstructing pedestrians. Even so, any solution will prove futile unless allegations of extortion are thoroughly investigated and those facilitating illegal occupation face swift legal consequences.

Dhaka needs a lasting system rather than another round of temporary clearances. Thus, both the DNCC and the Dhaka South City Corporation must enforce the rules consistently, investigate those who profit from illegal occupation, and hold responsible officials accountable. Street vendors deserve fair treatment, but their livelihoods cannot come at the expense of public safety. Ultimately, unless municipal authorities address both enforcement failures and the underlying conditions that sustain encroachment, the cycle will continue, exposing a deeper breakdown in urban governance.