Shops evicted from Baku Shah book market at Nilkhet for construction of high-rise

Owners of Baku Shah market at Dhaka’s Nilkhet have started the eviction of tenants of shops with the help of police for construction of a high-rise building there.

Baku Shah Hawkers Market Cooperatives Ltd President Abdul Awal said the evicting drive began around 10am on Monday.
 
The tenant of shops at the market protested the move, but police drove them away.
 
DMP Dhanmondi Zone Assistant Commissioner Ruhul Amin Sagar told bdnews24.com, “The market authorities have decided to construct a high-rise building after demolishing the shops. The eviction drive is going on as per their decision.”
 
Baku Shah is one of the biggest hubs of books, stationery items, computer composes, bindings and photocopiers in Dhaka.
 

According to Awal, the market consists of 1,200 shops most of which are rented out.

“The Cooperatives signed an agreement four years ago with the AG Green Property Ltd (for the construction of high-rise building). The company has already paid the signing amount to the market owners,” he said.

Awal said the tenants were asked to vacate the shops by December last year to facilitate the handover of the land to the developer and the deadline was also extended several times on request from them.

“We informed all Cooperatives’ members and tenants through a letter last week of the (planned eviction) drive. Those who are yet to vacate the shops are being evicted,” he added.

Cooperatives’ Member Secretary Babul Akter told bdnews24.com that the entire market would be demolished in two phases for construction of the building.

Tenants however alleged that the market owners went for the eviction drive without any prior notice.

“We don’t have any objection to the construction of high-rise building. Market owners asked us to vacate shops without any prior information. They snapped the power connections yesterday during (May Day) holiday without any notice,” said Sayeed Al-Mahmud, a leader of the tenants.