The Nights of Karwan Bazar

While Karwan Bazar, one of the largest wholesale markets in the country, is always bustling, it is during the night time when it really comes alive. The market thrives on vegetables brought in from all over the country. At midnight, trucks full of produce arrive at the scene. The sellers of Karwan Bazar wait patiently until then to take their picks of fresh veggies, which they will send to markets across the capital. It is right here that most of the vegetable the city dwellers enjoy come from. While the sellers wait, some nap, some enjoy their time with each other while others, like peanut-sellers, make a quick earning from the moment. The whole area has an air of infectious energy that persuades one to look beyond the mundane.

Later into the night, the footpaths are lined with people, known as “coolies”, who opt for slumber out in the open. They are the ones who help the sellers and the customers carry their pick of produce from the shops to the vehicles. But for that, they have to wait for the sun to rise and begin a new day at the wonder that is Karwan Bazar.

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed