We have done to the dust: Bangabazar traders after eviction

Tension gripped the Bangabazar area as an unnamed businessman voiced his frustration, saying, "We are done to the dust, What did we get? Transgender community raises funds for us, where that money from Transgender community? Have we ever got that money?" His sentiments echoed the plight of many traders affected by the recent demolition of illegal and temporary shops in the area.

The crackdown, carried out by the mobile court of Dhaka City Corporation‍‍`s property department on Monday evening, left numerous traders destitute. The dismantling of shops, long-standing fixtures in Bangabazar, has stirred emotions and raised questions about the fate of those dependent on these businesses for their livelihoods.

Speaking to The Report, a Bangabazar businessman expressed his dismay, revealing that signs indicating the market‍‍`s demolition had been posted without prior notice. He recounted the chaos preceding the Eid festival, during which rumors circulated about the impending dismantling of the market.

"Many of those who own shops had to evacuate their goods, but temporary traders without established shops were left stranded with their merchandise," he lamented.

Expressing his helplessness, the businessman lamented, "If suddenly such vandalism starts at night, if you notice these people, these women, these children - who are they? Are they city corporation people? They are looting our goods, shop lights and other equipment." He recounted the aftermath of last year‍‍`s fire accident, during which they invested heavily to rebuild temporary structures.

With a sense of dread about their uncertain future, the businessman revealed, "We are already destitute. Our goods worth 95 lakh taka were burnt. By the name of God I swear, I have not received a single grant from the government. Yet we have to face such a sudden and unannounced eviction from here."

Emphasizing the need for proper communication, he asserted, "We are the businessmen here, we should have been informed properly. The corporation has put up a signboard saying ‍‍`Operations closed.‍‍` But who will take responsibility for our shops being destroyed and all our goods looted?"

Regarding alleged notices from the City Corporation, the businessman challenged, "Show me a notice." He swore in the name of God, "No notice has been given by the city corporation. All these are fabricated, all staged dramas."

Criticism mounted against the eviction of illegal and temporary shops in Bangabazar, with traders questioning its legitimacy. One trader exclaimed, "Our hard-earned goods are being looted from our shops like this. What will happen to us now?"

Demanding justice, another trader appealed directly to the Prime Minister, stating, "We want justice from the Prime Minister. We don‍‍`t want judgment from anyone else. And if the Prime Minister cannot protect us, then whoever is above will be judged on the Day of Judgment, inshallah."

Another affected businessman in the Bangabazar area expressed concern, stating, "Almost all the businessmen are now in their village houses. Who will take charge of their goods in their absence?"

Frustrated by the lack of improvement in his situation, the businessman vented, "Other people are looting all their goods in their absence. Our goods were also looted during the previous fire. Still, we‍‍`re being robbed again. We remain destitute as we were."

His voice laden with despair, he continued, "We do not understand what kind of life we will live. Our shop was burnt down. The shop owners have been rehabilitated in Sundarban Square. This market will be built again. A shop worth 30 lakh taka will probably become 3 crore taka. Shop owners are all rich, they are all millionaires. We traders have always done business in exchange for rent from shop owners. We have rented them lakhs of taka. If there is a market again, they will get millions of taka for rent. But we who are ordinary businessmen, who work so hard, have done business for so long with all our capacity, we are done to the dust. What did we get?"

Expressing dissatisfaction with the aid promised, he questioned, "Transgender community had accumulated a fund for us, where is the money of Transgender community? Had we got the money? Show us an example. We had no objection to leaving. If we get the grant money we deserve, we would dismantle everything ourselves and leave now."

Another affected businessman of Bangabazar said, “Like a few days ago, we invested four to five thousand taka in decorating the shop. We were at home, and have come to know that the shop is being demolished.

Alleging that the market committee did not inform the traders in advance, a businessman said, "Our market committee did not inform anything in advance. If desired, the people of the market committee should have informed us. This notice is from the city corporation, the market committee did not inform us of anything.

Another businessman said, "We also want a building here. But we have not received even a single taka from the grant money allocated to us, and we have also not received back the mortgage money even.”

Another affected businessman from Bangabazar revealed, "Just a few days ago, we invested four to five thousand taka in decorating the shop. We were at home, and suddenly learned that the shop is being demolished."

Accusing the market committee of failing to provide advance notice, another trader lamented, "Our market committee did not inform us of anything beforehand. If they wanted, the committee members should have informed us. This notice is from the city corporation; the market committee did not inform us of anything."

Expressing disappointment over the lack of financial assistance, another businessman stated, "We also want a building here. But we have not received even a single taka from the grant money allocated to us, and we have also not received back the mortgage money."

A woman, reportedly involved in looting goods, was approached by The Report for clarification but could not provide a coherent response. She eventually evaded the camera.

The Report‍‍`s investigation failed to identify any authorized individuals from the Dhaka South City Corporation during the eviction process. When questioned, a person engaged in looting replied vaguely, "They‍‍`re breaking down, take it away."

Conflicting accounts emerged regarding who authorized the seizure of traders‍‍` goods. While one individual claimed it was at the traders‍‍` behest, others attributed it to city corporation officials.

Coincidentally, a devastating fire engulfed Bangabazar on April 4 last year. The Dhaka South City Corporation has since initiated efforts to modernize the area and establish a new high-rise business facility, renaming it as the Bangabazar Wholesale Market Bitan.