Solyman and his Tk30 books: A business with a heart
It was around 5:25pm, give or take a few minutes. Despite the fading light of the afternoon, the Lake Road near the Parliament Complex was as lively as ever. Perhaps the crowd was a bit more than usual because it was Friday, the weekend.
The evening had its own kind of charm, despite the hustle and bustle. I could not deny that it was quite enjoyable, so I decided to take some time to relax in Chandrima Udyan. While nature's peace calmed me a bit, the exhaustion I had been carrying all day was still there, refusing to let go. After an hour or two, I decided it was time to head home.
I was walking along the broad footpath in front of the Parliament Building when Md Solyman's "Tk30 book shop" caught my eye.
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As I was strolling, my attention was kept being drawn to the food stalls lining the street. There were steaming pizzas, fresh cakes, traditional Bangalee pithas, and hearty bowls of Haleem and Chotpoti. It was hard to ignore the fact that just a few months ago, scenes like this were rare on this road, and now it felt completely transformed.
The crowd around the street vendors was considerable, especially since it was the holiday evening. People sat and stood, enjoying their food, while others eagerly awaited their turn in line.
As I observed the lively scene, I could not help but feel the craving for a warm cup of tea, the kind that goes perfectly with a cool breeze in the evening. I sat down at a small tea stall by the footpath, where the uncle behind the counter made a cup of tea with white sesame seeds and black cumin sprinkled on top. It was divine. As I leisurely sipped the steaming cup, my gaze wandered, and I saw a wooden bookshelf further along.
A small crowd of young people had gathered around, some flipping through pages, while others grabbed multiple books to buy. My curiosity piqued, and I quickly finished my tea and walked over. As I got closer, I saw more than just a bookshelf — books were neatly arranged along a wooden plank set up along the side of the footpath, creating small steps.
And there, hanging above it, was a sign that simply read "30 Taka for Any Book".
Books at that price? I could not believe my eyes. I could not resist striking up a conversation with the vendor, Md Solyman, who welcomed me with a smile and patiently answered all my questions. We chatted for nearly half an hour. Solyman, in his 40s, lives in Sobhanbagh with his wife and children and has been living in Dhaka for many years. He started this book-selling venture after being inspired by his younger brother. For nearly eight years now, he has been selling books along this very footpath, just in front of the Parliament Building.
While we spoke, Solyman was always on his toes. Customers came and asked him countless questions, but he was not bothered at all. With a smile on his face, he answered each inquiry in turn. Perhaps this is what makes him so approachable and why so many people choose to stop by his stall.
Solyman's stall seems to attract nearly every passerby, and many of them stop to browse through the books, some even getting lost in a book's pages. His collection includes everything — novels, poetry, self-development books, academic texts — you name it. However, he noted that fiction was by far the most popular genre among his customers.
Every afternoon, he sets up his stall, but he also has an online presence. He now sells books through a Facebook page called "Solyman Book House". But there is a catch. Many people are sceptical when they hear about books being sold online for such a low price. They wonder if the books might be torn or counterfeit. But Solyman is clear in his stance: "I do not sell torn or counterfeit books."
Solyman's books are categorised into three price ranges: Tk30, Tk50, and Tk80-100.
There's a method to his madness when it comes to the Tk30 books. According to Solyman, he first displays the books at their higher price points. If they do not sell for a while, he lowers the price to Tk30. This way, he makes space for new stock while ensuring that older books do not gather dust on the shelf.
But doesn't this approach cause a loss?
With full confidence, Solyman responds, "No, there's no loss. There's always at least a Tk10 profit. I have been doing this for years, and I know how to run this business."
Solyman's book shop is now thriving. On average, he makes a profit of Tk1,000 to Tk1,500 every day. He sees many young people stopping by, picking up at least one book, and some of his regular customers even contact him in advance to let him know which books they want. Solyman makes sure to get them the books they ask for.
Most of the books in his collection come from Nilkhet Book Market, where many vendors sell in bulk — often 500 books or an entire batch for a fraction of the price. Solyman carefully calculates how many books he can sell for Tk30, Tk50, or Tk100, ensuring that each sale is profitable.
Additionally, he allows anyone who buys books from his shop to sell them back to him if they wish. Many people bring in their old books to sell, and Solyman buys them, reselling them to new customers. It's another way he keeps his costs low while keeping his stock fresh.
However, Solyman did not start selling at these low prices right away. There's a story behind this pricing strategy.
When he first began, he met a beef seller who was charging much less than others. While other sellers priced their beef at Tk150-200 more, this seller sold it for Tk650. His lower prices meant his sales were higher, and despite the lower price, his profit remained strong. Solyman saw the potential in this strategy and adopted it for his own book sales.
"If I sell at a lower price, I can sell more books, which increases my profit," he explained.
Solyman's approach to selling books can be an inspiration to many. By keeping his profit margins small but selling in large quantities, he ensures a steady daily income while offering readers the opportunity to buy books at affordable prices.
Every day, his books reach new readers, spreading knowledge and insight across the city, from one corner of the capital to another.
And what's truly remarkable is the way Solyman's initiative has brought books to the streets at such a low price. It's something that deserves admiration.
I watched the young faces around me, each with a spark of excitement. Some were thrilled to find an old edition of their favourite author's book for a ridiculously low price, while others picked up books hoping to learn something new.
That afternoon, while chatting with Solyman, I realised that this was not just about a stroll through a crowded street. It was a story of quiet satisfaction, a reminder that even in the midst of hustle, there is room for something special.
Before I left, I pulled out Tk100 from my pocket and bought three books from Solyman — Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay's "Dena Paona", Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", and Sunil Gangopadhyay's "Purba-Paschim (Volume One)".
