Drain work, encroachment renders Narayanganj footpaths unusable

Footpaths in the busy city of Narayanganj, meant to ease the movement of pedestrians, have now turned into a source of constant suffering.

From illegal hawker occupation and haphazard motorcycle parking to months-long drain construction work, the city's sidewalks are barely walkable, causing immense hardship for residents.

Visiting the city's key roads on Tuesday—starting from Chashara to Gate No. 2 on Bangabandhu Road and from Amlapara Mor to Gate No. 1 on Sirajuddowla Road—the UNB correspondent found the extent of the chaos.

On one side of Bangabandhu Road, sections of the footpath have been demolished for drainage work, with piles of waste dumped on the roadside.

Frequent rains over the past few days have worsened the situation by spreading the filth and stench throughout the road, resulting in waterlogging in several spots.

The parts of the footpath not under construction are either used as motorcycle parking spaces or have been occupied by hawkers.

Pedestrians are left with no choice but to weave through the clutter or walk along the edge of the main road, risking accidents amidst the city's relentless rush.

The situation is no better on Sirajuddowla Road, where large ditches have been dug for drain work from Amlapara Mor to Kalirbazar.

The excavated soil has been heaped on the roadside, making it nearly impassable even for pedestrians, who now cross using a few scattered bricks.

From Kalirbazar to Gate No. 1, the footpath has been overtaken by hawkers, vendors, and vehicles belonging to various companies—leaving virtually no space for walking.

Expressing his frustration, Roushan, a shopkeeper in the city's DIT area, said, "This problem didn't start today. It's been like this for years. Authorities sometimes conduct eviction drives, but within days, it returns to the same mess. Earlier, we could at least manage to walk. Now, with the drain work, the sidewalks are broken, and there's no space to walk at all. One or two steps forward, and you're blocked by debris or waste. Who knows when this government project will end. Governments change, but our sufferings don't."

Businessman Ahsan added, "Even a little rain brings waterlogging on the roads. I remember seeing knee-deep water on BB Road after just half an hour of rain. My home is in Pathantuli, and I travel through Khanpur and Kalirbazar every day to reach my shop in Digubabu's Bazar. There's no dry spot to step on during rain. Kalirbazar becomes a muddy mess. They started the roadwork before Ramadan, and we had to suffer the entire month. Now, the road has become unusable. I don't even know how much longer it will take to finish."

Farhad, a service holder, said, "Earlier, the City Corporation used to send a single garbage truck in the morning, and even that would block the entire road. Now, the road is filled with giant holes. No one paid attention to this road all year, and suddenly, work started during Ramadan. "

"From in front of Friends Market to Gate No. 1, hawkers have occupied the footpath with eyewear stalls, fruit carts, and temporary bag shops. Big buses pass through this route now, and with no footpaths, walking along the road feels dangerous, " he said.

Local residents have demanded immediate intervention from the city authorities to remove encroachments, accelerate ongoing public works, and ensure safe and accessible footpaths for all.