Cricket amidst a bustling schedule on election day

Karwan Bazaar, located in the capital city of Dhaka, is a bustling and significant area. It serves as the largest wholesale market in the city, operating day and night without any respite. While people in other areas enjoy a peaceful sleep, people here are engrossed in their work, tirelessly managing the ever-increasing workload. The entire neighborhood echoes with their shouts and calls.

Every day is a new challenge in this market. The workers hardly find a moment to catch their breath. However, on the day of the 12th National Assembly election, the market remains closed (January 7). On this particular day, a completely different atmosphere and mood can be observed. The employees from various shops within the market take to the streets to play cricket. They form teams using two chairs as wickets and engage in friendly matches. The onlookers become the audience, sharing their joy through applause and cheers. During conversations, it was discovered that most of them are eligible voters, but due to residing outside Dhaka, they were unable to cast their votes. Additionally, some are not yet of voting age.

For the labourers, the polling day becomes a reason to celebrate, as it provides them with an opportunity for entertainment amidst their year-long busy schedules. Each vegetable and fruit in this market has a fixed price, distinguishing it from others. Moreover, Karwan Bazaar boasts a massive wholesale fish market, designated Kamarpatti areas, an electric and electronics market, hardware and sanitary markets, a chicken market, and a vast market for shoes and clothes. It also features an open market catering to the middle and lower classes. Notably, the fruit market always offers a wide variety of local fruits, including an abundance of watermelons during the flood season.

The laborers rest on the market floor, using mats and sacks as makeshift beds. As the night progresses, the hustle and bustle intensifies. From 10 pm onwards, the streets come alive with activity, and this liveliness persists throughout the night.

By midnight, the karwan market becomes filled with an abundance of fruits, vegetables, fish, and chicken. Even during winter, spring vegetables can be found. Additionally, vegetables that are available year-round are also plentiful. Particularly, gourds and sweet pumpkins are arranged in a manner that resembles distant mountains.

As the morning light begins to illuminate the surroundings, the market undergoes a transformation. Hotels that sell rice, meat, and fish have been frying breads overnight. The air is filled with the enticing aroma of fried eggs, vegetables, fruits, as well as the scent of dirt and mud. At this time, a diverse group of buyers gathers here.

As the morning light begins to illuminate the surroundings, the market undergoes a transformation. Hotels that sell rice, meat, and fish have been frying breads overnight. The air is filled with the enticing aroma of fried eggs, vegetables, fruits, as well as the scent of dirt and mud. At this time, a diverse group of buyers gathers here.

Throughout the day, the market cleaning operations commence, with numerous workers diligently involved in the task. The city corporation dispatches several large trucks to collect the accumulated garbage. Meanwhile, those who have toiled tirelessly throughout the night finally find respite and rest in the morning. Subsequently, the retailers and buyers become actively engaged in their respective activities. Such is the customary sight in the bustling Karwan market, where countless individuals flock from morning till night. The daily transactions in this marketplace amount to millions of taka.

As the day progresses, the market witnesses a continuous influx of owners and financiers, leading to an ever-growing crowd of workers. Various trucks laden with vegetables, fruits, and other products start arriving on different streets within the market. These trucks are often surrounded by rickshaw-vans. Once inside the market, the goods are transported to their designated locations. Throughout the night, ice trucks frequently arrive at the fish market. Each day, hundreds of truck pickups from different districts and upazila cities across the country transport a wide array of raw products to this wholesale market. Additionally, fish carts from various locations also make their way here.

Numerous children and adolescents also assist in unloading goods from vegetable trucks that come from various cities. These individuals reside in railway gates and slums in the nearby vicinity. Despite their inability to perform strenuous tasks, these young individuals contribute by helping with the unloading process.

Karwan Bazar boasts a staggering 2,301 shops. This largest raw market in the country has also established eight associations based on the nature of businesses. The market is bustling with people and vehicle traffic. In an effort to alleviate congestion in the city center, there was an initiative to relocate this market. However, even after 15 years, the market remains in its original location. Karwan Bazar is also known as Mediapara, as it houses several media headquarters.

During the 12th national elections, like-minded political parties, including BNP, boycotted the event and urged citizens not to vote. BNP declared a hartal programme on the day before and on the day of the polls. Despite the near-empty streets of Dhaka, local and foreign election observers have reported a peaceful atmosphere during the voting process. However, there have been instances of violence, individual candidate boycotts, and loss of life due to encroachments at polling stations in certain parts of the country.