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A new improved Banga Bazaar

City correspondent
Bongo Bazar, the popular market where customers belonging to all the spheres of the society flock to shop, is shifting to new complexes in Gulistan and should be operating in full swing soon, according to sources in the Dhaka City Cor-porationfDCQ.
The Bongo Bazar is basically a combination of four neighboring markets namely Bongo Bazar Hawkers’ Market, Gulistan Municipal Hawkers’ Market, Mohanagar Hawkers’ Market and Adarsha Hawkers’ Market which house some 2,275 tin-shed shops in an area of 60-^rh^. It came into being in 1989 following the demolishing of the makeshift hawkers' markets in Gulistan, which had been a popular destination for second hand clothes since the 60s. Ihe new complexes have been named Sundarbans Hawkers’ Market and Bongo Bazar Hawkers' Market complex and all the shops of four markets will be relocated there.
Construction of the fourstoried Sundarbans Hawkers' Market is already complete and 116 shops of Mahanagar Hawkers Market and 115 of Adarsha Hawkers' Market have become operational there. With a capacity to house atleast 978 shops of 80 square feet each, this market has an underground parking lot and provisions for elevators and escalators.
I he new Bongo Bazar Hawkers' Market is nearing completion. It will have 1,236 shops of 80 square feet each and over 40 percent service area. There will be a sky roof, escalators and elevators.
Bongo Bazar's attraction stems
from the variety of clothing it offers to customers at a much cheaper price than anywhere else in the city. Even expatriates and travelers who are aware of its existence, never miss the chance to visit the place. From sweaters, tights, jackets, trousers, shirts, skirts, shorts, saree, lungis and every type of garment you can think of, locally made shoes and undergarments are also a big draw for customers at Bongo Bazar.
The huge chunk of surplus supply from local garment industries usually make their way to Bongo Bazar and businessmen here have also started bringing in Japanese, Chinese and Korean items.
AHM Taslim Uddin, Vice-President of Bongo Bazar Hawkers' Market shop owners association claimed that it was the biggest wholesale market for local
shoes and saree.
"I do not mind shopping here although the place can be claustrophobic at times. Besides, this is where my pocket permits me to shop at will,'' said Tonmoy Mojumder, a student of Dhaka University.
Traders of Bongo Bazar can afford to sell their goods at a comparatively lower price as they have to pay a monthly rent of onlyTk five per square feet. They said that the rent would remain the same even after they move to the new complexes which should come as music to the ears of the customers as it means the prices are unlikely to go up.
Shop owners are hoping to do better business once they move to the new complexes as improved facilities and space is expected to attract more customers.