Temporary hawker markets have occupied footpaths surrounding educational institutions across Dhaka, forcing students and pedestrians onto the road as stalls and stacked goods choke the pavement.

The congestion is sharpest in Old Dhaka’s Laxmibazar, where several educational institutions are concentrated: St Gregory’s High School and College, St Francis Xavier Girls’ High School and College, Dhaka Government Muslim High School and College, and Jagannath University.

Along adjacent roads and footpaths, informal vendors sell clothes, shoes and food, with stock piled in front of stalls and shoppers crowding the remaining walkways. The rush peaks at the end of the school day as students and parents navigate past hawkers, shoppers, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.

While parents note that the congestion complicates the trip home, many acknowledge buying from the stalls for their lower prices and convenience. Jagannath University students offered a similar view, noting that buying clothing and essentials beside campus saves them time and transport fares.

Richi Sumaiya, an undergraduate at the university, said she regularly buys clothes from the vendors. She noted that commuting to campus and giving private tuition requires a large wardrobe, making inexpensive options practical. But she added that setting up stalls beside schools is unreasonable.

“A footpath is for walking. Shops next to a school also have a bad influence on small children. But it’s not in our hands to remove them,” Sumaiya said.

Hawkers contend that they operate out of financial necessity and that eviction without an alternative arrangement would make it difficult to support their families. Majed Ali is a children’s clothes vendor unable to find space anywhere else and trades beside the school.

“If I were given a place to trade, I would go there. Business is good here too. University and college girls come, and school guardians shop after school lets out,” he said.

Akter Mahmud, a professor of urban and regional planning at Jahangirnagar University, warned that commercial activities disrupting students’ education or behaviour through noise pollution or street congestion must be restricted around learning spaces.

“In densely populated areas like Old Dhaka, informal commercial activity beside schools may disrupt students’ movement and the educational environment. While mixed land use is permitted for schools, activities that negatively affect students’ education and behaviour should not be allowed around educational institutions,” Mahmud told Bonik Barta.

He added that long-term residents often develop a tolerance for such surroundings, allowing footpath encroachment and related irregularities to appear normal. Clearing footpaths alone is insufficient without also raising public awareness, he said.

Abdus Salam is the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation. Speaking on Tuesday during an inspection of eviction and cleanliness operations at Fakirpool, Dainik Bangla and Motijheel Bok Chattar, he said: “Roads and footpaths are for the public to move along. We won’t allow them to be occupied for business or for storing goods. If our instructions are ignored, we will have no choice but to evict these illegal structures.”