Bangabazar is one of the country's largest and oldest wholesale-cum-retail market complexes for ready-made garments in the capital's Fulbaria area. It comprises at least six small markets -- all three-storey tin-shed structures, covering an area of around 21,250 square feet.
The complex turned into a wasteland after a mysterious fire broke out early Tuesday. Even two days ago, the market was crowded with sellers and buyers, but now thousands of traders are lamenting losing everything -- stock as well as cash -- ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
Some borrowed, while some poured all their life savings into this market since the clothes sellers can sell the highest amount of products before this Eid. But the fire has made around 5,000 traders destitute in just a few hours. The businessmen are now seeking government assistance to get a permanent building with better facilities as they have suffered much in multiple incidents of fire in the last two decades.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has sped up efforts to submit the design of the building to the prime minister.
The complex, owned by the DSCC, is divided into four units. There were 2,931 shops and godowns in the Bangabazar unit, 828 in the Gulistan unit, about 700 in the Mahanagar Market and about 600 shops in the Adarsha Market. The tin-shed structures also housed some small factories sewing clothes. These four units are spread over four to five buildings, namely Banga Islamia, Bangabhumi, Anexco Tower, and Bangladesh Super Market.
How Bangabazar started
Talking to the traders, it is known that Bangabazar was built around the main railway station in Fulbaria of the capital with everyday products and clothes. In 1965, there were more hawkers and small shopkeepers in Bangabazar.
Later in 1975, the Dhaka Municipal Authority decided to demolish the tin-shed shops and build a paved market. In 1985, the city corporation acquired the ownership of the site, and in 1989, the paved mall was constructed anew. It became known as a market for ready-made garments between 1985 and 1990 when the Bangladesh garment industry started exporting.
Due to the huge number of shops compared to the space, the alleys inside the market became narrower and the market became risky. In 1995, there was a terrible fire in Bangabazar's Adarsha unit. Later, the market was rebuilt. Last, on July 24, 2018, a fire broke out there and some shops in the Gulistan unit got burnt.
In 2019, the Fire Service declared the three-storey Bangabazar unit as risky. On April 1 of that year, the market was declared dangerous by pulling up a banner in front of the Bangabazar complex. Then 10 letters were sent to the market committee. The same year, the government took the initiative to construct a multi-storey building.
On January 6, 2020, the DSCC invited a tender to demolish the old structure and rebuild the market. The lowest bidder who participated in the tender was awarded the work order on April 10 of that year.
But some traders filed a writ petition in the court seeking a stay order against the move at the instigation of an influential quarter. As a result, the demolition and repair work stopped.
Why obstruct the construction
A leader of the market committee on condition of anonymity said: “There are many internal issues regarding the market. But the issue regarding the construction of the city corporation building is that if they construct a building here, shop owners have to make a one-time payment of Tk10-12 lakh. Not all traders can give it. So we were paying slowly. The authorities took Tk1 lakh and Tk20,000 in two phases as salami (gift) for the permanent shops.”
On the other hand, if the city corporation constructs a building, according to the law, 25% ownership of the building must be given to the DSCC. “There are many other reasons as well which I can't say now. I will say only this – when Allah is displeased with His servants, He gives oppressive rulers the power to teach us a lesson.”
Anowar Hossain, owner of Kaya Fashion in Bangbazar Complex, said: “We don't want anything else now. Even if the building is constructed, we should be resettled.”
Finance Secretary of Bangabazar and President of Unit-B of Bangacomplex, Lokman Hossain Khan said: “We've given Tk2 lakh so far for making our shops permanent. Tk1.2 lakh was taken from each shop. And now this incident has happened. We've no other option now. Now I want the building. Whatever happened before, we want to solve this problem as soon as possible.”
DSCC working on design
Regarding the construction of a building in Bangabazar, DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday said: "We had plans to build a multi-storey building here. It was not implemented due to a litigation. We will sit with the traders to come up with a new plan so that everyone can run their businesses smoothly. After confirming that, we will plan the construction of the building.”
He said after completing the design, it would be shown to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “The affected traders will be given priority in the new buildings. They will be rehabilitated first.”
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan visited the site on Wednesday and said an investigation would be conducted to see if there was any negligence in the incident. “If there is any risky market, it is requested to remove the businesses. It'll be decided later whether the market will be re-established or not. The city corporation will take the measures.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that the government could have built a well-decorated market at Bangabazar if there had been no obstacles. Assuring the affected traders of aid, she said: “I have already said that I will help them as much as I can and will monitor what kind of damage has been done.”
