News Flash
CHATTOGRAM, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain announced plans to construct an underground market to rehabilitate street vendors in Chattogram and safeguard the livelihoods of local workers.
The mayor shared details of the proposal during a meeting with a Chinese business delegation at the CCC office in Tiger Pass today.
The New Market and Chawkbazar areas of the city were initially chosen as feasibility study areas for an underground market. These locations were selected due to the high number of hawkers in the New Market area and the increasing pressure in the Chawkbazar area.
The mayor emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of rehabilitating the city's hawkers, which has been a long-standing concern. The rapid population growth and the significant increase in the number of hawkers have been creating a chaotic situation in city. Additionally, the limited job opportunities have contributed to rising unemployment and poverty.
Dr. Shahdat emphasized that hawkers are an integral part of our society and that a sustainable rehabilitation plan is being considered to address their basic rights and livelihood issues. Discussions are underway with China's Shenfeng Holding to develop an underground market, the mayor added.
He also mentioned that some infrastructure previously constructed on BFIDC Road under the IT project is not fully operational. Dr. Shahadat proposed modernizing these structures to create an underground shopping mall or a planned market. This approach would provide permanent rehabilitation for hawkers and offer modern shopping facilities for local residents.
He mentioned that a Chinese investment group has been in touch with the CCC for a while regarding this project. They plan to begin with a feasibility study and will assess potential locations with CCC engineers during on-site visits. If all goes well, implementation will commence shortly.
Alan Xu, CEO and Chairman of Join Win HK Holdings, was joined by Hu Yongjun, representative of Canada Harbor Castle Resort, Hu Zhenglai, President of Primestar Global Limited, Li Jing Bo, Vice General Manager, Liu Honglei, CEO and Chairman of Shengfeng Holdings, Tian Hai Gang, Assistant to CEO and Chairman, and Dr. ATM Abdullah, Anwar Hossain, CCC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Md. Ashraful Amin, Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman, Superintending Engineer (Municipal) Abu Sadat Tayyab, and Executive Engineer Mahmud Shafqat Amin, among other senior officials were present on the occasion.
