What’s delaying Karwan Bazar relocation?

It has been quite some time since the authorities decided to relocate the traders of Karwan Bazar Kitchen Market to the Amin Bazar and Jatrabari wholesale markets. Reportedly, most traders are still not willing to go there because they fear it may affect their business negatively. Up until now, only some 300 wholesalers have agreed to relocate their shops. But most businesses – including retailers selling groceries, clothes, hardware and electronics items – are still against the move. The kitchen market was long marked as risky by the authorities, and already 90 percent work of the Amin Bazar and Jatrabari markets is complete, so there is hardly any option left for the traders but to close shop here. But there should be proper arrangements in place to facilitate or ease their relocation.

At present, there are 1,789 permanent and 180 temporary shops at the four DNCC-owned markets of Karwan Bazar. The plan is to relocate them in phases. While the authorities think that the move will improve the supply system for farm products and reduce traffic congestion in the Karwan Bazar area, the traders believe they will suffer huge losses in the new locations. They have also expressed concerns about the new shops which they say are too small compared to those that they now have. Moreover, there is a visible lack of trust between the traders and the authorities concerned as far as the relocation is concerned.

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Don’t normalise risky living

Given the situation, we think the authorities should continue discussion with the traders' bodies and come to a solution that is agreeable to all parties. While concerns about inappropriate designs of the newly-constructed markets should be addressed through necessary renovations, the authorities should also consider constructing three separate roads at Amin Bazar and Jatrabari, as the traders have demanded. 

Additionally, the government should think about giving some financial incentives to them considering the loss they might incur due to shifting their business to new locations. The relocation should be done sooner than later, but not without addressing the traders' concerns first.