ARUN BIKASH DEY, Ctg

Footpaths across key commercial areas in Chattogram have become increasingly inaccessible, forcing pedestrians onto busy roads and raising serious safety concerns.

Yesterday morning, Jubilee Road, one of the port city’s major commercial hubs, presented a chaotic scene. Shops selling tyres, tubes, and sanitary goods had extended their operations onto public walkways, leaving little to no space for pedestrians.

Stacks of ceramic tiles and rubber tyres occupied stretches meant for foot traffic, forcing people onto roads used by moving vehicles.

“We cannot walk through the footpaths because the shops have occupied every inch,” said Mainul Islam, a resident of Enayet Bazar. “We have to walk on the main road, literally putting our lives at risk with every step.”

The situation is not confined to one road. A visit to several key roads, including Nawab Sirajuddaula Road, Momin Road, Telipotti Road, and Jamal Khan Road, found widespread encroachment and poor enforcement. In many areas, pedestrians were unable to walk more than 200 yards without facing obstructions.

On KB Fazlul Quader Road, footpaths have effectively turned into parking spaces for motorbikes, while near Chawkbazar Post Office, pavement space is being used for spray-painting steel furniture, exposing passersby to chemical fumes.

“The paint particles spreading in the air are a double blow,” said local resident Tapati Barman. “We have to avoid the footpath not just to walk, but just to breathe safely.”

The situation has also exposed gaps in coordination between the Chattogram City Corporation, responsible for infrastructure, and the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, tasked with traffic and parking enforcement.

CCC Mayor Shahadat Hossain said eviction drives are conducted regularly but acknowledged limitations.

“The CCC’s mobile courts conduct eviction drives regularly, but it is not possible to conduct them every day,” he said, adding that CMP should play a more proactive role in keeping footpaths clear.

Despite such assurances, encroachments persist, from flower shops at Cheragi Pahar to privately parked vehicles along Momin Road, leaving pedestrians with little choice but to risk walking on busy streets.

Residents and students expressed frustration over the lack of sustained action.

“The authorities must take immediate steps to free these spaces,” said Shanta Islam, a student of Chittagong College. “A city cannot function if its citizens are forced to risk their lives just to walk to the market or school.”

Attempts to reach CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali in this regard went unanswered.