The six-storey New DNCC Market, located on Paris Road in Mirpur 11, Dhaka, has remained abandoned for nearly 28 years. Locals have long referred to it as the “Haunted Market” due to its dark, unfinished interiors and the eerie atmosphere that haunts the bustling commercial district surrounding it.
Despite being situated in one of the capital’s busiest and most vibrant areas, the incomplete concrete structure has become a source of fear. The building has gradually transformed into a hotspot for criminal activity, particularly drug use and illegal gambling. Residents report that drug users and gamblers congregate in the market’s ground floor at all hours. Crumbling walls, peeling plaster, exposed concrete slabs, and scattered bottles of the potent narcotic phensedyl have made the site genuinely terrifying.
The western section of the market has been partially occupied by makeshift shanties, while rickshaws and vans are parked on the ground floor, adding to the darkness and foul odours that pervade the space.
Concerns over the city’s management resurfaced recently after a human corpse was discovered inside the market. Police report that at least eight bodies have been recovered from the premises over the past five years. Officer-in-Charge Alamgir Jahan of Pallabi Police Station stated, “On the night of 16 January, the body of a man named Suman was found on the market’s ground floor, with visible head injuries. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. We will formally request the city corporation to take urgent action to reopen the market safely.”
Construction of the market began in 1996, with government plans to allocate 2,363 shops, funded by payments from prospective business owners. However, subsequent changes in government, mayoral transitions, and internal divisions within the city corporation left the project incomplete. The contracting company, Khalek Enterprise, also failed to fulfil its responsibilities.
The table below summarises the key details of the New DNCC Market:
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Name | New DNCC Market |
| Location | Paris Road, Mirpur 11, Dhaka |
| Floors | 6 |
| Land Area | 2 acres |
| Construction Started | 1996 |
| Approximate Cost | 25 crore BDT |
| Allocated Shops | 2,363 |
| Bodies Recovered | 8 (past 5 years) |
| Current Status | Abandoned; centre for crime and drug use |
Local residents have expressed alarm over the building’s transformation into a haven for illegal activity, describing it as a gathering point for drug addicts, gamblers, and thieves. Both city dwellers and local traders hope that authorities will take immediate steps to reopen and secure the market, restoring safety to one of Dhaka’s key commercial areas.