Chowk Bazaar, Traditional bazaar in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh
Chowk Bazaar is a wholesale market in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, made up of a tight network of lanes running between densely packed shops spread across several city blocks. The goods on offer range from textiles, toys, and household items to chemicals and machinery parts.
The market dates to the Mughal period, when General Man Singh established administrative offices near the site of the present-day Central Jail in 1602. Trade activity gradually built up around that administrative hub over the following centuries.
Inside the market stands the shrine of Hafiz Ahmad Jaunpuri, an Islamic scholar buried on the grounds. Shopkeepers and visitors often pause there to pray between transactions, weaving devotion into the rhythm of a working day.
The lanes are narrow and often busy, so comfortable shoes and keeping your belongings close will make the visit easier. Coming in the early morning gives you more room to move and a clearer sense of how the market is laid out.
During Ramadan, parts of the market shift toward selling iftar foods and traditional Bengali sweets, drawing crowds that rarely come for wholesale trade. It is one of the few moments when the commercial character of the place gives way to something more festive and communal.
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