Markets

I am working on a web project on the markets of Dhaka with my friend Siraj Shahjahan. We are contributing to the 80+1 initiative that comes out of Austria. Siraj has identified 80 markets in and around Dhaka, which he then videos and passes on to me his notes to be written up. It seems to be working and I've certainly learned a lot about markets.

In a sense you can argue that old Dhaka and markets are one and the same thing. The community revolved around the market, which not only met their material needs but also their spiritual needs as well. If it was a predominantly Muslim market there would be a mosque attached. The Hindu markets, like Shankhari, had temples attached, or rather integrated into the functioning of the market. Even as late as the 1960s markets were being established with mosques integrated into their design and functionality.

As Dhaka expanded there was separation of function; the shopping malls became solely commercial in their orientation with mobile service centres replacing the mosque as a gathering point for the community!

At this point I think the secular/religious binary is one of the more important points to consider when we are discussing the role of the market in the community. Interestingly, markets that contain mosques, such as New Market, remain very popular with consumers!

There's a lot more work to be done here but I'm beginning to sketch out our first paper on the markets of Dhaka and Siraj is scripting a documentary. Ultimately we plan to have a full array of products relating to the topic - film, multimedia presentation and book.