A massive six-storey concrete structure standing beside Paris Road in Dhaka’s Mirpur-11 has become a symbol of a failed development project and a growing security concern for local residents.
Built to accommodate more than 1,000 shops, the unfinished market has remained abandoned for nearly two decades after construction stopped in 2007. With only the roof completed and walls never built, the structure has earned a chilling nickname among locals—the “man-eating market”.
The building, planned more than three decades ago when Dhaka City Corporation was still undivided, has now turned into a hideout for criminals, according to residents and police.
At least 12 bodies have been recovered from the abandoned structure since construction began, officials at Pallabi Police Station said. In December last year, three foreign-made firearms and 73 live bullets were also recovered from the building.
Police said the vast, open structure with dark corners and multiple floors makes it difficult to monitor and conduct regular operations.
The six-bigha property falls under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Police have urged the city authorities either to complete the market and make it operational or demolish the structure.
“Searching the entire building is almost impossible. We are trying to communicate with the city corporation so that they can restart the market quickly. If that is not possible, discussions are also underway about demolishing the building,” Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Hasan Basir told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Local residents said criminals from Mirpur, Pallabi and surrounding areas use the abandoned building openly for drug dealing, gambling and other illegal activities.
They said drug transactions and consumption continue even during daylight hours, while the building becomes more intimidating after evening.
Many residents are reluctant to speak publicly about criminal activities linked to the building, fearing retaliation.
“Speaking about this with you could put our safety at risk. We could face attacks as well,” a middle-aged resident, who requested anonymity, told TIMES.
A local woman said, “Many things happen inside the market that cannot be discussed openly. For the sake of our dignity, we generally avoid going nearby, and no one wants to interfere.”
The market was originally planned to rehabilitate traders from Mirpur-11 New Society. According to DNCC officials, the foundation stone was laid in 1996, and traders deposited money with the city corporation in two instalments for shop allocation.
However, the construction was halted after 2007, leaving the structure abandoned.
During the interim government period, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz had said the city corporation wanted to resume construction. He said that even if the original investors could not be located, their heirs could be identified to move the project forward.
But no further progress has been made regarding the matter.
Asked about the future of the abandoned market, DNCC Chief Engineer Syed Rakibul Hasan said, “No final decision has been taken yet on this matter.”
