Where women run the show

A good percentage of village women right across the country don't feel entirely comfortable to visit local markets. The noise, grit, fumes and dust, along with the overwhelming male majority in the crowd of market-goers and shopkeepers hardly appeals. Nor do women easily feel safe in such an environment. As a result, the women of Baniachar, in Jalirpar union of Muksudpur upazila in Gopalganj, long ago opted for change: what was needed, they decided, was a market of their own.

Established in 1988 and locally known as Bou Bazar, the 'wives market' is a longstanding, bustling success. The market currently hosts 150 permanent shops run by women, with around 300 more women arriving daily to sell milk and vegetables from temporary stalls. All manner of  daily supplies can be purchased there.

"This market has an interesting story," says Shantunu Boiragi, who sells electric wires and cables from her shop in the bazaar. "Local women used to go to nearby Jalirpur market to shop, but one day it caused a dispute. After that women were forbidden to go there; so we started this one, our own market."

"Why is it called Bou Bazar?" poses betel leaf seller Doimonti Boiragi, 48. "It's because a long time ago, after breakfast when their husbands would leave for work, women in this area had little to do. They passed hours idly. So the women decided to have their own market. Now they come here to sell goods and to shop instead of sitting at home. It's helpful because women know better than men which vegetables to buy to cook with which fish."

"I have been running a tea stall in this market for fifteen years," says Shela Mondol, 38. "Women have no need to feel shy here. Nobody disturbs us."

"Most customers and shopkeepers are women," agrees Mina Bilal, herself a shopkeeper in the bazaar. "We have no problems here."

Despite it being primarily a women's initiative, local men have a role to play, and most often they are supportive. "We are proud of this market because it allows women to contribute to their family income," says one male customer Nikhil Biswas, 43. "I usually shop here."

"Many husbands come here after work to help their wives," explains Doimonti Boiragi. "And the fish and meat sellers in the market are men."

The president of the market committee is also a man. "Women face no particular difficulties here," says Diponkar Mohanto, "but we have other problems including no bathroom facilities in the bazaar and only one tube well."

The chairman of the local union council, Akhil Boiragi, is also supportive. "Our women have done a very good job here," he says, "They contribute to household income along with their husbands." He says he hopes to take steps to resolve the lack of some facilities and any other problem at the market.