Lalbagh market, the busiest area of Rangpur city, hosts a market selling old bicycles twice a week.
The market, occurring on Sundays and Wednesdays, attracts buyers and sellers not only from Rangpur but also from surrounding districts.
It offers a variety of bicycles, including both old and brand-new models, with prices ranging from Tk3,000 to Tk10,000.
The affordability of these bicycles has led to a significant turnout of buyers and sellers, establishing Lalbagh’s cycle haat as a popular destination.
This historic market, with a legacy spanning a century, traditionally featured the sale of various products, including livestock such as cows, goats, and poultry.
However, bicycle sales have gained prominence, earning the market its reputation as a bicycle haat. The haat has gained popularity, particularly among the lower and middle-class residents.
On market days, traders, students, and individuals from diverse areas go there to buy and sell bicycles throughout the day. The market attracts a wide audience, with students, employees, and NGO workers among the prominent buyers.
Ashraful Islam, a tenth-grade student residing in the Darshana area of the city, has brought his new model bicycle for sale. He shared that he originally purchased it for Tk13,000 but was compelled to sell it due to financial constraints and difficulty paying school fees.
He was now willing to part with it for Tk8,000, and even willing to negotiate down to Tk6,000.
Asma Begum, an NGO worker from Pirgacha, came to buy a bicycle as she commutes five kilometers daily. She found an old bicycle at the market and purchased it for Tk3,500.
Motiar Rahman, a vegetable seller in Rangpur city market, had his bicycle stolen. He came to buy a replacement since his shop is four kilometers away from home.
Despite finding a suitable bike, priced at Tk6,000, he was unable to purchase it due to his budget within Tk3,000-4,000.
Faruq Faisal, a college student, expressed a preference for an old bicycle over a new model. The seller was asking for Tk8,000, while Faruq engaged in bargaining for a further reduction. However, he pointed out that a new bike of the same model would cost between Tk12,000-15,000.
The market attracts individuals from diverse professions, leading to the emergence of a bicycle-centric marketplace.
Traders said that apart from new models, old bicycles of different brands are sold in this market. Around 500-700 bicycles are available at each market. The lessee has to pay Tk350 for each bicycle sold, which they complained about as excessive.
Concerns have been raised about the possibility of bicycles stolen from Rangpur and surrounding districts being sold at the Lalbagh market, leading to a perception that buyers can obtain bicycles at lower prices.
However, both the bicycle sellers and the authorities of Lalbagh haat vehemently denied these allegations.
They clarified that prices naturally decrease after the purchase of any product, and this dynamic attracts a significant number of buyers to the market.
Rabiul Islam Munna, the lessee of the market, addressed the issue, emphasizing that there is no comparable cycle market of this scale elsewhere in the Rangpur region.
The market has taken measures to facilitate the selling of bicycles, providing various sheds for this purpose. A receipt is issued only when a bicycle is sold, serving as proof of purchase, and the price charged for the sale is not exorbitant.