Dhaka Markets’ Streets

পান্থপথ ফানর্িচার মাকর্েট

Apartment, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions in Dhaka are expanding to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing population of Dhaka City. To fulfill the need for the house and interior decoration many furniture markets have been built in different parts of Dhaka city. Pantha Path Furniture Market is Dhaka’s biggest and most important furniture market.

The market is located just opposite Bashundhara City, which is Dhaka’s first mega shopping mall and spreads over a considerable distance of Panthapath on the north side of the road. In this famous furniture market, all kinds of wood, bamboo, cane, iron, plastic and steel furniture are available. Along with furniture made from foreign ships’ wood (usually salvaged in Chittagong), well known Bangladesh branded ready made furniture is sold in this market.

Cots, almirahs, showcases, chairs, tables, sofas, alias and other local forms of furniture are commonly produced in the shops of Pantha Path furniture market. School, college, and office furniture are also supplied from this market according to order. Wednesday is the holiday of this market. 9 am to 8 pm are the official hours of the market

Kawran Bazaar (কাওরান বাজার) is the biggest and most famous wholesale general market in Dhaka City. All kinds of vegetables, fish, rice and other commodities are supplied to the small markets from here. At the end of eighteenth century Kawran Singh, a Marwari merchant, first established the bazaar Later it was extended and developed into 1255 stores, of which 55 are owned by Dhaka City Corporation.

There is no holiday in the market, which operates a 24 hours a day but the early morning is the peak hour for the wholesale and fish markets. Starting at 12 A.M, the vegetables and goods come from around the country. Many trucks and pick-ups carry and bring commodities here from different places. The gathering of clients becomes concentrated in the early morning, around 4-7 O’clock, when the small markets open. As many clients watch movies during the nights, the restaurants of Kawran Bazaar are opens 24 hours, and sell delicious Bangla dishes. Comparatively the price of food in these restaurants is high. A residential hotel, tea-stalls, pan and cigarettes shops can be found at the bazaar.

Many prominent newspapers, TV stations, media centers, government agencies and multinational companies’ head offices are situated in the Kawran Bazaar area. The five star hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon is situated just near the bazaar.

Shangshad Bahaban Entertainment Market: Jatiyo Shangshad Bhaban is the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh. It is the political centre of the country. Construction of this distinctive building which was designed by Louis Cahn, started in 1961 and finished in 1982. This building was first used in 15th February 1982. Before this the Prime Minister’s present office was used as the Shangshad Bhaban.

Shangshad Bhaban is built in 200 acres of attractive gardens. Everyday many visitors come here to see and enjoy the natural scenery of the area. The area has also become a recreation park as well. In the morning many health conscious people come for their morning walk and in the evening huge numbers of boys and girls visit the park. To cater for these people an unofficial street market has become established. Many chapati and fuchka shops are found in this area. Beside these there are stall selling toys, fashion items, cigarettes, tea and coffee. At one time a Pilipino Jeepni was used as a mobile restaurant but during the caretaker government’s time ( 2007-2008) the Jeepni mobile restaurant was evicted.

Crescent Lake and Zia Uddan are situated to the rear of Shangshad Bhaban. Floating shops and hawkers are found all around this building. All street shops operate everyday of the week. On weekly holidays and during government holidays this street market becomes crowded with customers.

80+1 : Final Destination | গন্তব্য: The Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ) Department of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB, http://www.ulab.edu.bd ) hosted the Bangladesh component of the 80plus1 “A Journey Around the World” on September 7, 2009, between 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the ULAB Seminar Room, Campus B, Dhanmondi, Dhaka City. The activity, spearheaded by ULAB Lecturer Shahjahan Siraj, brought together, via satellite hook-up and fiber optic cable technology, students, faculty and professionals from Austria and Bangladesh.

The closing ceremony started with the welcome speech from Professor Jude Genilo, the Chairman of Media Studies and Journalism Department, ULAB. After the opening comments 80+1 artist, Shahjahan Siraj shared his experiences of the project with the audience, which was moved by watching the video Dhakai Market View.

The Moderator, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed Chowdhury facilitated the question and answer session between the audiences in Dhaka and Linz. The topics for discussion was relevant to market culture, journalism and technologies. The ceremony was closed with thanks given to MSJ for hosting the final destination of this segment of the 80+1 project. On behalf of 80+1 Mr. Siraj handed over a certificate to Professor Genilo in recognition of ULAB’s contribution.

Dhakai Markets’ View | মার্কেটস’: A photographic video presentation covering 81 markets visual of Dhaka . The live bits events were held as 80+1 tour around the Dhakai markets by Siraj and his team.

Jatrabari Street Market | যাত্রাবাড়ী: The previous name of Jatrabari was Brammonchiron when the best way of reaching this place was a water vessel. In the past, when there was no TV, cinema and electronic entertainment media, the Jatrapala (local Bangla form of drama) was very popular place for recreation. In this area there is a famous Jatramondop. Because of the wide practice of jatra culture, the place name became Jatrabari.

Jatrabari has become one of the one the busiest streets of Dhaka City. Thousands of people visit the place as it is a connection point for a number of districts. There are always huge traffic jams particularly as the street market has captured the footpath illegally. People cannot move easily in Jatrabari.

Jatrabari is a bus stop even though it is close to the famous bus station Sayadabath. It is a dangerous area for pedestrians as it’s always crammed with buses, cars and taxis that seem to be in constant movement. More over, the rickshaws increase the traffic.. The area is situated in Old Dhaka, where it is said people are not concerned about education but very serious about money making.

There are a huge number of restaurants, which unfortunately don’t have a good reputation in regard to providing hygienic food. It is a part of the city where the traditional herbal Kabiraji and Hakimi medicine systems are practiced and despite the possible health risks they are advertised with huge banners draped across the streets and buildings..

Like as other street markets, Jartrabari street market is known for low quality, cheap goods. Nowadays a number of modern shopping centers have been established in the market, mostly selling clothes, cosmetics and fashion products.

BCS Computer City | বিসিএস কম্পিউটার সিটি: BCS Computer City is the biggest computer market of Bangladesh. In 1999 with 100000 square feel of space , this market was started. It is situated at Agargaon, She-e-Bangla Nagoor of Dhaka City. There are 322 modern computer and accessories shops.

Like other developing nations, the digital divide in Bangladesh is pronounced, but the computer city has made access to technology, particularly among the young generation, much easier thereby softening the divide to some extent. However, problems remain. There are real problems with the high price of computers in Bangladesh and the English base of most computing makes it inaccessible to many people. To overcome these problems the Bangladesh government has declared it will create a Digital Bangladesh by 2021 by providing the technology for all.

The businessmen of the computer city, however, control the introduction of computer technology to the country through their contracts on brand name products. Hardware, software, computer, laptops, DVD, movie, Internet and computer magazine are the common products on sale in this market. A nineteen storey ultra modern building called IDB Bhaban is attached to BCS Computer City. Friday is the holiday for this market.

This computer market starts at 9:00 AM and closes at 8:00 PM. A number of customer and visitors gather here all day long. Everyday many new model computer and other imported products are introduced to the public. Computer City has a security system.

Rifles Square | রাইফেলস স্কয়ার: Rifle Square is a modern shopping center situated in Dhanmondi. The main camp of BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) is situated beside this market. The name Rifle Square is comes from its proximaity to this BDR Camp. A modern daily products Bazaar named “Agora” is situated to one side of this market.

This modern shopping center is opposite Dhanmondi Lake. There are about 360 shops in the market. All stores are well decorated and full of local and imported products. All kinds of readymade wear, shirt, pants, sharis, three pieces, babies wear, toys, cosmetics, jewelry, electronics product, shoes, crockery, gifts, card galleriesy, mobile phone shops, movies, fashion product and many needed products are on sales in this market. Some modern food corners are also available here where a number of young people chat but the main attraction for the young is the courtyard. They assemble here most afternoons to chat and have fun.

The product quality in this market is high and they carry international prices. This market brings the taste of western life in the life to Dhaka City. Friday is the holiday for this market. This shopping center is a business concern of the Bangladesh Rifles and it conducted by the Bangladesh Rifles.

Hazaribag Bazaar | হাজারীবাগ বাজার: Hazaribag in old Dhaka is famous for the tannery industry, although it is facing a struggle to survive until recently it was a good business for foreign currency earnings. The Leather Technology College of Bangladesh is situated here.

There are 360 tanneries, of varying size, located at Hazaribag. The size of the industry means that there is a big problem with wastage and pollution from chemicals; consequently the government has taken a decision to shift the industry outside of Dhaka by 2010.

Along with tannery and leather related businesses, there is a general market at Hazaribag that was started before independence. As a locally managed initiative the market received its registration in 1994. Today there are almost 400 different types of shops at Hazaribag. In the general market we find vegetables, fish, meat, rice, grocery items, stationery items and everyday commodities for sale. There is also, a readymade garments and tailoring area plus fruit shops, restaurants, tea-stalls and so on found in the Bazaar. This bazaar starts at 7:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM everyday. There is no holiday for this bazaar.

The head offices of all leather companies of Bangladesh are located at Hazaribag and consequently it is quite a rich area. However, it’s a living place for workers and officials of the leading factories, which means there are a number of slums and slum-like residential areas in Hazaribag Baribath.