Known as Bou Bazar, a market has turned more than 200 poor women into successful entrepreneurs. All the sellers and traders here are women.
Located in Chandpur town's Puranbazar, the market remains crowded in the morning. Almost all essential items are available there. The market sits in the morning from 9:00 am till 11:00 am on both sides of the footpaths of New Mayor Road.
A fish vendor Selina Begum, 35, said, "The women traders are mostly widows or abandoned by their husbands, landless, helpless and homeless."
They sell almost all kinds of vegetables, fish, and beef. However, prices of commodities are much cheaper than other markets in the locality, said a buyer.
One of the reasons behind this could be that they sell items, which are either spotted, damaged or a bit of sub-standard quality, she added.
During a recent visit to the market, this correspondent found that one can buy fish and vegetables for Tk 50 only. People can even buy 100 grams of fish or beef, which is not possible anywhere else.
Selina Begum told this correspondent that she had been selling fish there for the past 15 years.
"I sell a variety of fishes. But they are fresh, and prices are within the reach of the poor women," she added.
She went on saying that there were only a few women traders 8 years ago. "But now there are many women in this trade," Selina said.
Juli Begum, 70, who lost her husband 11 years ago, said she sells vegetables.
Widow Ranu Begum, 35, who sells vegetables, said, "We are running a small business. We do not want to depend on others for help and living."
Jesmin Begum said her husband is bed-ridden with a deadly disease for a long time and cannot work. "So, I and a few other women like me are here," she added.
The woman trader also said, "We buy vegetables from big business houses, and then sell here at a cheaper price with a small margin of profit."
Fish vendor Sheli Begum said, "Big-sized pangus fish of local hatcheries, rui and katla fishes are cut to sizes, and sold at Tk 30.00 for some five pieces."
Broiler chickens are also sold at a cheaper rate there, she added.
However, during the rainy and stormy days, these women traders have to face problems, they alleged that they do not even have any tent or piece of cloth over their heads.
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