Aziz Super Market closed amid committee formation conflict; traders left frustrated
Despite police intervention and the reopening of gates, most shops stayed closed and customer presence was minimal
Aziz Super Market in Shahbagh, one of Dhaka's landmark shopping centres, has remained shut for three days following violent clashes over the formation of its shop owners' welfare association committee.
Traders say the deadlock has left their businesses paralysed ahead of the festival season.
Tension flared this afternoon (3 October) following Jummah prayers, when a dispute between two rival groups of owners escalated.
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Leaders of the current ad-hoc committee locked all entrances of the market, leaving traders and shoppers in shock.
Shahbagh police intervened about an hour later and reopened the gates. However, most traders chose to keep their shops closed, citing insecurity.
Confirming that the market was padlocked due to conflict between two groups of shop owners, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khalid Mansur told The Business Standard, "One group is in favour of holding an election among the shop owners, while the other wants to take control without an election."
During an evening visit today, the market presented a deserted look. A handful of shops on the ground floor were open, but most on the second and third floors remained shuttered. Footfall was negligible, with little sign of customer activity.
A shopkeeper, requesting anonymity, said, "Since Wednesday afternoon, when clashes broke out over the committee issue, the market has been stuck in a deadlock. Most of us have not opened shops. I opened only to deliver some online orders. All day, just one customer came in."
"Without stability, we cannot do business, especially ahead of the festival season," another shopkeeper said.
Root of the crisis
Businessmen and insiders say the conflict stems from disputes that emerged after the fall of the Awami League government last year.
In October, the Department of Social Services formed a three-month convening committee with Robiul Islam as convener and Md Sanullah Shishir as member secretary, tasked with holding elections.
The process soon ran into legal hurdles. On 17 October, a day after the committee took charge, former president Nazmul Hasan Naju filed a lawsuit questioning its validity.
The court initially stayed the committee's activities, later reinstated it upon appeal. An administrator panel was also appointed at one point but was halted through further litigation.
Tensions escalated again on Wednesday, when clashes broke out between the current committee and a rival group refusing to recognise it.
Police intervened at the time, but hostility resurfaced today, leading to padlocked gates and fresh chaos.
Aziz Super Market hosts over 500 shops, with about 450 registered voters eligible to take part in the association's elections.
According to its bylaws, a new committee should be elected every two years. Traders allege no valid election has been held since 2015.
"This entire power struggle between rival groups is destroying our livelihoods. Customers are staying away, and we traders are the ones suffering the most," said a clothing store owner.
Allegations of violence and extortion
Current convener Robiul Islam accused the former committee of politicising the market's administration.
"The previous committee captured the market and politicised it. Since we were given responsibility, they have filed one case after another against us. On 1 October, rival leaders brought in outsiders, vandalised our office, and padlocked it," he said.
Member secretary Sanullah Shishir alleged that he was held at gunpoint during the clashes.
"They forced me to sign documents and looted over Tk3.50 lakh from the office vault. They also broke CCTV cameras and assaulted our staff," he claimed. Shishir said police did not record their complaint immediately due to Puja-related duties but confirmed that a formal case would be filed soon.
The current committee maintains it has stabilised the market's finances, saving Tk5 lakh in one year despite receiving "zero handover funds" from the previous committee.
It pledged to amend the constitution and hold proper elections once pending cases are resolved.
