Aziz Super Market Closes Amid Violent Election Dispute
Aziz Super Market in Shahbagh has been closed for three days due to violent clashes over the formation of its shop owners' welfare association committee. The market hosts over 500 shops, with about 450 registered voters eligible to participate in the association's elections. However, no valid election has been held since 2015, despite the bylaws requiring one every two years.
Tension escalated after Jummah prayers on 3 October, leading to the market being padlocked by the current ad-hoc committee. The move sparked a conflict between two groups: one favouring elections and another wanting to take control without an election. The member secretary alleges that he was held at gunpoint, and the office was vandalised and looted during the clashes. Shahbagh police intervened and reopened the gates, but most traders chose to keep their shops closed due to insecurity.
The current convener accuses the former committee of politicising the market's administration and filing cases against them. The current committee claims to have stabilised the market's finances and pledges to hold proper elections once pending cases are resolved. The closure has paralysed businesses ahead of the festival season, with most traders keeping their shops closed.
Aziz Super Market remains closed due to ongoing disputes over the election process for the shop owners' association. With no valid election held since 2015, traders are calling for a resolution to ensure the market can reopen and resume business ahead of the festival season.
