The Mirpur 10-foot path is no longer a footpath. It is a market, a maze, a daily test of patience. From morning to night, street vendors occupy almost every inch. Bookstalls, clothing shops, shoe piles, food carts- nothing is temporary anymore.
People walk, but barely. They squeeze, twist their bodies sideways. They step down onto the road. They dodge rickshaws and buses, risking their lives. What should take five minutes takes fifteen, sometimes more. Energy drains fast in the crowd, tempers rise. Arguments break out; someone always shouts.
For elderly people, it is worse. For the sick, it is cruel. For people with disabilities, it is almost impossible.
Wheelchairs cannot pass; crutches get stuck. White canes hit hanging clothes instead of open space. There are no ramps, no clear paths and no mercy. Many simply turn back. Others wait, helpless, for someone to guide them through the chaos.
The Mirpur 10 Metro Station gate suffers the same fate. The irony is sharp. A modern transport system, but an ancient problem at its doorstep. Passengers exit the station and hit a wall of vendors. Crowds pile up, movement slows to a crawl. During peak hours, it becomes dangerous. One push could cause a stampede. Yet, this is treated as normal.
The footpath was built for walking, for safety, for dignity, not for trade. Vendors argue they have no alternative. They need to earn. That is true. But so do pedestrians. They need to move and breathe. They need to reach home safely.
The problem is not just vendors. It is neglect, weak enforcement and selective blindness. Eviction drives come and go. A few days of relief. Then everything returns stronger, bigger, more permanent.
Urban life should not be a daily obstacle course. Public space should not punish the public. Mirpur 10 is one of Dhaka’s busiest hubs. It deserves better planning: clear walkways, designated vending zones, strict rules and consistent action.
Footpaths are not luxury items. They are basic rights. Until that truth is respected, Mirpur 10 will remain crowded, painful, and unfair. And every step forward will feel like a struggle.
