Dhaka, Oct. 5 -- Footpaths are meant to provide safe and accessible spaces for pedestrians, but in Dhaka, they often serve a very different purpose.

Street vendors and hawkers occupy much of the space, selling everything from fruits and snacks to clothes and shoes.

Construction materials are frequently piled up, while motorcyclists and cyclists use the walkways to dodge traffic on the main roads, turning pedestrians' movement into a daily challenge.

Still, there is some hope for those struggling to walk through these encroachments, as the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has taken an initiative to make parts of the city walkable again.

The DNCC has decided to deploy 400 armed Ansar members to keep the city's footpaths permanently f...