Bangladesh, July 17 -- The eviction drive to clear encroachments beneath several metro rail stations in Dhaka is a welcome step. Makeshift vendors occupied the footpaths and even access points of the stations, making it difficult for the commuters and pedestrians to move and walk smoothly. By evicting the illegal vendors, passengers' movement is now easier. The question is: how long will the spaces remain free of encroachments?

In Dhaka, as well as the rest of the country, almost all the footpaths and walkways are occupied by makeshift vendors and hawkers for long. Despite occasional drives to clear the footpaths, the vendors quickly reoccupy the spaces. They are backed by a vicious ring of activists from a pro-government political part...