Karwan Bazar traders held a press conference at the kitchen market at 11am on Monday, opposing announcements to evict the market and relocate it to Gabtali. They said the move was made without discussion and described it as a deep conspiracy by a particular group. The traders urged that they be rehabilitated within Karwan Bazar in a modern market while retaining their current allocated space.

The relocation decision was made at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, August 29, according to the report. The meeting focused on easing Dhaka traffic congestion, modernising traffic management and restoring discipline in transport. Relevant authorities were instructed to take necessary action, and media reports of the decision prompted concern among traders.

In a written statement, Alhaj Mohammad Shahjahan Bhuiyan said Karwan Bazar’s trading history spans about 150 years. He said roughly 2,500 shops with permanent allocations support the livelihoods of about one million traders, workers and wholesale vendors. Traders also demanded a direct meeting with the prime minister, removal of illegal road encroachments, and submission of a memorandum.