Dhaka Bureau: Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said there is no perishable wholesale market in the middle of the city, so there will be no Kawran Bazaar (Karwan Bazaar). This market will be moved to build a vibrant, clean city. He said that for the sake of the safety of the buyers and sellers of the goods, we are urging the removal of the Kaoran market. We want to assure everyone that the modern markets that we will make will be much better than the Kaoran market. At this time, the businessmen started shouting “We will not go, we will not go”.
He said these things in an exchange meeting with the leaders of the Caravan Bazar Traders Owners Association aimed at handing over Kawran Bazar under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Region-5, at TCB Bhavan Auditorium on Thursday (June 8).
In the president’s speech, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said that everything is possible through discussion. Why are we saying that Kawran Bazar (Carwan Bazar) is dangerous? Because the engineers (engineers) have given a report knowingly, and we have given this signboard with this announcement. Acting as per his orders. The traders started a commotion during the mayor’s speech.
Meanwhile, Mayor Atiq tried to calm the situation and said, “Stop, sit with me.” We say or do something suddenly. We don’t want anyone to become unemployed. He said, “This market is risky; it will collapse anytime. Will businessmen take on this responsibility? Then the businessmen said, “We will take responsibility. The mayor then tried to calm the situation and said, “Let’s make a committee of 11 people to solve this problem through discussion.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, based on the report given by the BUET officials after the inspection, the City Corporation has been forced to declare the caravan market dangerous. He said that at one time there were three murders and extortion in Kawran Market. Today, we are able to stop it with the help of traders.
He said to the traders, “Everything changes with time; maybe there will come a time when trucks will not enter this market road, then you will be in danger. Nothing will happen in which traders will suffer in the slightest. We will not take anyone’s livelihood by force. Wherever arrangements are made, the market will be made in such a way that traders will go there willingly and happily.
The minister said there will be an appeal to the mayor to build a modern supermarket here. But everyone has to make concessions. To beautify the city, the mayor will decide by talking to businessmen. If the markets are risky, we hope that Mayor Atiqul Islam will deal with alternative businesses as soon as possible.
Minister of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Tajul Islam said that there is no intention to harm the traders in the responsibility that the Prime Minister has given us regarding Kawran Bazar. We want to build a harmonious city for all. He said that now the movement of 50,000 people, the movement of numerous people, and the coming and going of trucks have become complicated matters. Therefore, the problem should be solved keeping in mind that the businessmen are not affected. To solve this problem, businessmen also need help.
The minister said that to beautify the city of Dhaka, everyone should solve this problem with a logical agenda. All parties must work as one, not as adversaries.
At the event, Kaowran Bazar business leaders said that the City Corporation had deliberately abandoned Mangara. They alleged that the decision to shift the Kaowran market without any discussion with the business leaders has thrown the businessmen here into uncertainty.
Haji Md. Abul Bashar is the leader of Kawran Bazar Small Business Owners Association, and today we are improving Kawran Bazar gradually. We removed those who were occupying the illegal market and secured the place for the City Corporation. Now they are telling us to evacuate the place by making us helpless. Please evict without dealing with us. We will be lonely. Arrange our business at any suitable location in Kawran Bazaar.
The leader of Karwan Bazar Arat Malik Samiti, Omar Farooq BSC, said there is no way for trucks to leave the market that has taken place in Gabtali. Gabtali Azara’s plan was wrong. It must be corrected. Let the City Corporation make such arrangements within Dhaka that the public will not face any inconvenience. If the corporation gives us space, we will take the market on our own initiative.
Leader of the Chicken Market Association, Haji Md. Lokman, said, ‘Since taking over the market in 1986, we have been giving revenue to DNCC. But they did not repair even a single piece of lining. Kawran Bazar (Karwan Bazar) has been declared abandoned today due to negligence in their own work. Our demand is to modernize the Kaoran market into a smart market, and we have to stay here. If you want to remove it by force, we will all sacrifice ourselves if necessary.
