In an effort to ease vehicle flow, the Dhaka South City Corporation has cut down footpaths along several major roads—some reduced by half, others by nearly two-thirds. In certain stretches, entire sidewalks have disappeared. From Moghbazar to Kakrail, pedestrians in one of the world’s most crowded cities are struggling to find basic space to walk.

Dhaka, the world’s second most densely populated city after Jakarta, is home to 36.6 million people under two city corporations. Yet, in this vast urban landscape, footpaths—essential for safe pedestrian movement—are being narrowed one after another.

In the high-profile residential area of Mintu Road, multiple pavements have been significantly reduced. In front of the DMP headquarters, the walkway is now so narrow that two people cannot pass comfortably, despite being considerably wider just weeks earlier. While the stretch from the DB office to Kotowali intersection remains unchanged, the sidewalk in front of the state guesthouse Padma has been narrowed to the point where two pedestrians cannot walk side by side.

A more drastic change is visible from Holy Family Hospital to the Anudeep petrol pump in Moghbazar, where the footpath has disappeared entirely. Google Earth images show that the walkway once extended from the pump to the Moghbazar intersection. Pedestrians now have to navigate through gaps between parked vehicles just to move forward.

Repeated attempts to reach the DSCC chief executive’s office for an on-camera comment were declined. Off-camera, officials said the footpaths were reduced to ease congestion at the entrance of the Moghbazar flyover.

Public health lawyer and environmental activist Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin expressed deep concern over these measures. He noted that national policies and the city’s master plan clearly emphasize pedestrian-friendly development, yet the city corporation’s actions undermine people’s rights—particularly those of wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility. Such steps, he added, contradict the law and violate constitutional guarantees ensuring accessibility for all citizens.

Urban experts warn that instead of promoting walkability, these backward moves could increase accident risks and marginalize the large number of people who rely on foot travel daily.

The trend is not isolated. The walkway from the Foreign Service Academy to the Ministers’ Apartments has also been narrowed, following earlier reductions between Banglamotor and Paribagh.

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