Despite repeated assurances from the city corporations, little progress has been made on repairs or safety measures.
In Uttara, one of Dhaka’s busiest areas, thousands of passengers cross the five-lane road every day to reach Shahjalal International Airport or the nearby railway station. Although there is a designated footover bridge, most pedestrians risk their lives by crossing the road directly.
When asked why they avoid using the bridge, one pedestrian said, “Robbers come and go here after evening. Ordinary passengers are harassed.” Another added, “Various illegal activities take place here. Many people hide on the bridge.”
A field investigation revealed that Dhaka’s two city corporations together have over a hundred footover bridges, but the majority are either unsafe or abandoned. The bridges near Balaka Cinema Hall and Paribagh have reportedly become havens for muggers and floating sex workers. The one near Matsya Bhaban is occupied by the homeless.
Even bridges equipped with escalators—such as those near the airport, Banani, Farmgate, and Jamuna Future Park—remain nonfunctional, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. “The escalators are always out of order. We have to climb broken stairs while carrying heavy bags,” said a commuter.
Several bridges, including those at Shukrabad, Panthapath, Science Lab, and New Market, have been taken over by hawkers. The ones near Ramna Park and Banglabazar are almost deserted, while incidents of mugging are frequently reported from the Notre Dame College and Asadgate bridges.
Although footover bridges in areas like Farmgate, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-1, Kakli, and Banani see higher usage, they too are heavily occupied by vendors, leaving little space for pedestrians.
Experts believe powerful groups are profiting from the chaotic state of public walkways. Communications expert Dr. Hadiuzzaman said, “Thousands of crores of taka are being extorted from footpaths. Local politicians, influential individuals, and corrupt officials are all part of this network.”
Urban planners have also criticized the unplanned construction of footover bridges in Dhaka. For instance, on the one-kilometer stretch between Agargaon and Shyamoli—which houses major institutions like the National Orthopedic Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, and the Election Commission—there is not a single pedestrian bridge.
Urban planner Adil Muhammad Khan noted, “We build overbridges without understanding pedestrian needs. Projects get completed, but the infrastructure goes unused. There’s a clear disconnect between people’s needs and our transport planning.”
In response to the growing concerns, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has promised new measures. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said, “We have already conducted several eviction drives. To prevent reoccupation, we are planning to deploy BDR and Ansar personnel for round-the-clock monitoring at key locations. This will ensure both security and safety for pedestrians.”
City dwellers, however, remain skeptical, saying they have heard similar promises before—while Dhaka’s footover bridges continue to decay into neglected shelters for crime.
