In Dhaka’s Lalbagh area, a major road stretching from Chapra Mosque to the Maternity Hospital intersection has been illegally occupied for decades by hundreds of makeshift and permanent shops. The encroachment has turned the road into a permanent market, causing severe traffic congestion, pollution, and daily suffering for office workers, students, and residents. Locals allege that both the police and Dhaka South City Corporation have failed to take effective action despite repeated complaints and occasional eviction drives that yield only temporary relief. The market, selling everything from tea to fish and vegetables, generates unhygienic waste and fosters an unsafe environment. Residents claim that some political figures and corrupt officials are profiting through extortion. City officials have offered little response, with key officers unavailable for comment. Locals demand immediate clearance of the road and sidewalks to restore normal movement and prevent further deterioration of living conditions in the densely populated neighborhood.