Entrepreneurs of Mohammadpur’s Janatar Bazar-1 have alleged that the market was padlocked despite a High Court order directing that its possession and existing status be maintained until September 14.
Entrepreneurs Md Borhan Uddin and Sanowarul Haque Soni made the allegation at a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday.
They said the High Court issued the status quo order on 1 September, but the market’s main gate was padlocked at around 10am on 3 September while they were absent.
The entrepreneurs demanded immediate implementation of the court order and an investigation into the decision to close the market, changes to its operating policies, the use of public funds and the role of the administration.
High Court order
According to the entrepreneurs, a High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debashis Roy Chowdhury issued the order on 1 September following a writ petition.
The court directed that the status quo regarding the possession and existing condition of the market be maintained until 14 September. It also directed that the case be placed on the cause list on September 14 for necessary orders.
The entrepreneurs said the Dhaka District Administration was informed of the court order on September 2 and was subsequently provided with a certified copy.
Despite this, they alleged, the market was padlocked the following day.
“Under what legal or administrative authority was the market locked while a High Court order is in force?” they asked.
They said the status quo must be maintained until the court passes further orders on the matter, which is currently sub judice.
How Janatar Bazar-1 began
Jonotar Bazar-1 was initiated by a group of young entrepreneurs from Dhaka University with the aim of sourcing agricultural products directly from farmers and producers and selling them to consumers in Dhaka at fair prices.
The entrepreneurs said they had been operating the market since 2025 in accordance with procedures set by the Dhaka District Administration.
However, on 12 July, they received a letter cancelling their market management contract and instructing them to hand over the market’s accounts to the district administration by July 25.
The decision prompted the entrepreneurs to move the High Court.
Questions over policy changes and funds
The entrepreneurs also raised questions over changes to the market’s operating policies.
They said their original responsibility was limited to sourcing and supplying products, while sales and day-to-day management were handled by employees appointed by the district administration.
Later, they alleged, the financial responsibility for paying those employees’ salaries was shifted to the entrepreneurs, although recruitment and administrative control remained with the district administration.
They also alleged irregularities in the use of Test Relief (TR) project funds allocated and withdrawn for the construction of a slaughterhouse.
According to them, no slaughterhouse was built at the designated site despite the allocation and withdrawal of the funds.
They called for an investigation into the allocation, withdrawal and expenditure of the money.
The entrepreneurs also raised concerns over Janatar Bazar-2 in Kamrangirchar, alleging that around Tk 2 crore in public funds had been spent on its infrastructure, while no entrepreneur had been appointed even seven months after its establishment.
They demanded a comprehensive audit of public funds, infrastructure costs and employee salaries and allowances at both markets.
Entrepreneurs’ demands
At the press conference, the entrepreneurs presented an eight-point set of demands.
They called for strict compliance with the September 1 High Court order maintaining the possession and status quo of Janatar Bazar-1 until 14 September.
They also demanded an investigation into the 3 September 3 padlocking and the legal or administrative authority behind the move.
Other demands included a full audit of public funds allocated to Janatar Bazar-1 and Janatar Bazar-2, an inquiry into the use of TR project funds, and scrutiny of the process through which the market’s policies were changed.
The entrepreneurs sought clarification of the legal basis for transferring employee salary costs to them and demanded an investigation into the administration’s role in managing the markets.
They further called for a neutral inquiry based on the statements and evidence submitted by the entrepreneurs.
They also demanded that responsibility be fixed and compensation provided for losses allegedly caused by the closure of the market.
Finally, they called for the future of Janatar Bazar to be determined strictly in accordance with the High Court’s directions while the matter remains sub judice.
