Dhaka South City Corporation has initiated a project to construct Bangabazar Paikari Nagar Biponi Bitan, a 10-storey shopping complex, at the place of Bangabazar complex, which was destroyed by fire.

The new market building will have 3,042 shops.

According to DSCC sources, Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor approved the new design yesterday. He also gave some directives and asked for amendments in the proposed design.

The tendering process will commence this month while the authorities hope to undertake physical works by September.

"We are working on the design. As soon as it is finalised, we will start the tendering process. Construction works will begin after the tender is allotted," said DSCC Spokesperson Abu Naser.

THE NEW DESIGN

According to Bangabazar Shop Owners Association sources, the building will be built on the 106.28-katha land, where fire engulfed the four markets.

The new complex will have basement parking which will accommodate 196 cars and 80 motorbikes, and a total of 22 eateries on different floors.

A total of 384 shops will be constructed on the ground floor, while the first and second floors will have 366 and 397 shops, respectively.

There will be 774 shops each on the third and fifth floors while the fourth and sixth floors will have 404 shops each. 

The seventh floor will accommodate 313 shops.

Of the 3,020 common shops, 918 will be allotted to traders of hawkers' market in Bangbazar Complex, 829 to Gulistan hawkers' market, 572 to Mahanagar hawkers' market, and 701 shops to Adarsh hawkers' market.

The new building will have 81 more shops than the destroyed Bangabazar shopping complex. Each shop will have an area of 80-100 square feet.

Additionally, the eighth floor will accommodate an office for the shop owner's association, and working stations for staff and security personnel. 

The building will have seven staircases, four fire exits, and eight lifts (four general and four cargo).

Jahirul Islam, acting general secretary of shop owners' association, expressed contentment regarding the progress.

"Eight floors will be constructed initially on 10-storey foundation. Only the owners of the 2,961 shops of the affected four markers will get shops at this complex," he said.

On April 4, a massive fire at Bangabazar Shopping Complex resulted in the destruction of around 3,000 shops, primarily filled with clothing items, causing significant economic losses to several thousand traders.

The adjacent Anexco Tower, Banga Islamia Market, and Banga Homeo Market were also affected, while a police barrack near the Police Headquarters was partially destroyed.