For small traders and tenants, Pahela Baishakh brings anxiety over increased rent, fees too

While Pahela Baishakh is a festive occasion for many, for small traders and tenants across Bangladesh, it signals rising costs and renewed financial stress.

With the arrival of the Bangla New Year, markets and river terminals across both urban and rural areas see a change in leaseholders. These new leaseholders impose fresh tolls and fees, while many landlords hike rents for both residential and commercial properties – often forcing traders to vacate long-held spaces.

"Pahela Baishakh doesn't mean celebration to us, it's the start of new anxieties every year," said Md Abul Hashem, a small trader from Bhabaniganj in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila. 

Speaking in front of the Lakshmipur DC office today (14 April), he shared how he has lost rented shops or footpath spaces several times due to rent hikes that come into effect on this day.

Shahjahan, a betel leaf wholesaler in Lakshmipur for over 15 years, echoed the same concern. 

"Every year, when Pahela Baishakh arrives, new leaseholders take over the markets. I've lost shop positions in several places due to this. Now I do business at Mandari Bazar, but I know I'll have to pay higher lease fees again this year."

Photo: TBS

Md Harun-or-Rashid, a social science teacher at a school in Lakshmipur town, explained, "The beginning of the year is when leases for markets and ferry terminals are renewed, often at a higher rate. This leads to an increase in tolls and fees. Landlords also take this opportunity to raise rent, and this has become somewhat of a regular practice, both at an individual and administrative level."

"My own house rent has gone up from Pahela Baishakh," he added.

Former leaseholder of Torabganj Bazar, Md Belal Hossain, noted that local markets and ferry terminals are leased out by the government under the Local Government Division. 

"Every year, leases are given at a higher rate than the previous year. The new leaseholders then collect higher tolls from traders and terminal users, which becomes effective from Pahela Baishakh. This naturally drives up traders' expenses."

That increased cost, he said, eventually trickles down to the consumers.

Photo: TBS

Grocery trader Alauddin pointed to another burden - Halkhata. 

"We do Halkhata at Chaumuhani wholesale market in Noakhali during Pahela Baishakh. That also adds pressure. So, for us, this day is all about tension, higher shop rents, increased market fees, and extra costs."

Md Mohi Uddin Munna, a college teacher, said, "Pahela Baishakh brings pressure especially on small business owners and low-income tenants. Landlords sometimes even evict long-time tenants just to rent to someone else at a higher rate. As a result, people can lose both their homes and businesses around this time."

"For many, the day marks not celebration, but financial worry," he added.