Traders of capital's New Market have called off their protests against a second floor expansion at the market after getting the assurances of local lawmaker.
Hundreds of traders, under the banner of The New Market Traders Association, occupied the road in front of market's south side gate on Monday protesting a move to build a second storey at New Market.
The protesters blocked traffic between the Nilkhet intersection and the BDR Gate. They gave speeches and chanted slogans.
Police had tried to break up the protests but had been unsuccessful.
Agitators claimed, "Such expansion move would ruin the structure of this historic market.”
Association member Mohammad Awlad Hossain alleged that some corrupt officials at Dhaka South City Corporation wanted to build a second storey at New Market.
According to bdnews24, local lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh arrived in the area around 4:45pm. He agreed to the protesters’ demands and requested them to call off the protests.
“I agree with you,” he told them. “New Market has its own particular tradition. I believe the city corporation will reconsider its decision.”
“I will speak to the Dhaka South City Corporation mayor regarding the matter tomorrow,” Taposh said.
Later, the traders vacated the area around 5pm, allowing traffic to resume.
