Aziz Market: Sights and Sounds

And you also see a lot of devotees visiting the shrine. Aziz Market has been the ‘official’ chitchat place for many celebrities. It is not uncommon to see a poet browsing through the books, or a few journalists and columnists strolling through the corridors, or actors and dramatists like Mostofa Sarwar Faruki sitting in the busy tea stalls and gossiping; or strugglers sitting in the surprisingly narrow stairway of the market dreaming big dreams.

Long time ago, Aziz Market had nothing but a few publication houses and bookstores which made it a good place for authors and poets to hang out at. They met regularly to exchange ideas and thoughts, keeping each other motivated. They still do today; the custom hasn’t changed till date, it has only become stronger.

Not being a writer, actor, etc. doesn’t stop you from visiting Aziz Market, though! At any point of time, you will see friends meeting up at the place. And why not? After all, Dhaka University is nearby. Moreover, the complex has a residential place, with a huge number of bachelors living there. There are many offices, a training centre, medical equipment stores and a couple of cyber cafés as well. ‘Adda‘ is bound to happen here if not anywhere else.

So much so, a drama serial was aired on Ekushey named ‘Aziz Market Shahbagh- 1000′, which involved the lives of various people hanging out at the market.

Aziz Market is not the same place anymore. It has transformed itself almost completely. Nevertheless, Aziz Market still stands out in the crowd; and it stands proud, recognising the rich Bangladeshi culture and literature.

It is oblivious of its odd, old and not-so-stylish appearance, a little supercilious for being the meeting place for many renowned people for so many years, and it has grown old and wise having soaked in the stories of thousands of people who shared their joys, sorrows and secrets with each other. And it continues to file countless memories, perhaps in the narrow stairway, or in the dim corners, or at the tea stalls…

Aziz Market: Sights and Sounds

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