Let’s know about Dhaka New Market. I’ve been dragged here since I was 6 – first clinging to my mother’s sari, now elbowing through crowds like a pro. This is the raw, unfiltered truth about New Market that no algorithm understands.
Why You Should Trust Me For New Market Dhaka
- Family has run a button shop here since 1978
- Got lost in the basement as a kid (found 3 hours later near stolen phone stalls)
- Can spot a fake Levi’s tag from 10 feet away
The Real Layout of Dhaka New Market (Forget Official Maps)
Ground Floor:
- Block A (Perfume Wars): Where “Chanel No. 5” costs BDT 300 and smells like toilet cleaner
- Block C (Jean Mafia): 50 shops selling the same 3 designs at different “discounts”
- Hidden Corner: The real goldsmiths (behind the fake flower stalls)
First Floor:
- “Export Quality” Alley: Where “Made in Bangladesh” tags are removed with nail polish remover
- Shoe Graveyard: Last season’s Bata rejects with “new” price tags
Basement (Enter at Your Own Risk):
- Section 1: “Refurbished” phones (read: stolen)
- Section 3: Army surplus – real bulletproof vests next to fake Ray-Bans
Bargaining: The Art of War
Today’s Masterclass:
- The Opening Move:
- Seller: “This is original Lacoste!” (BDT 3,500)
- You: Snort laugh “Dada, Majhirhaat market is that way” (Offer BDT 600)
- The Walkaway:
- They’ll let you get exactly 7 steps before calling you back
- The Final Play:
- Settle at BDT 900 but demand free socks
Pro Tip: Carry a small calculator – typing numbers speaks louder than words
What They Don’t Tell You About…
The Toilets:
- Location: Behind the broken escalator
- Cost: BDT 10 (includes 1 square of tissue)
- Experience: Like using a spaceship toilet during turbulence
The “Guards”:
- Mostly shopkeepers’ cousins
- Will help you find shops…for a “small commission”
The Rainy Season:
- Turns the basement into Venice
- Floating shoe boxes become makeshift boats
Food: What’s Safe vs What’s Suicide
Actually Edible:
- Nirob Hotel’s Beef Tehari (since Nehru was alive)
- Alauddin’s Roshogolla (they change the syrup daily)
Russian Roulette:
- The “fresh” sugarcane juice (watch them rinse glasses in the same bucket)
- Any meat item sold near the electronics section
Black Market Secrets (From My Uncle Who “Imports”)
- “Genuine Fake” Phenomenon:
- Some fakes are better than originals (check the “AAA+” replica iPhones)
- The 4 AM Wholesale Market:
- Where shopkeepers fight over smuggled Korean cosmetics
- Military Gear Backdoor:
- Real night vision goggles available…if you know the right basement stall
Survival Phrases
- “Dada, ekdom last price?” = Final offer?
- “Bhai, VIP discount diben?” = I’m nobody’s VIP but it sometimes works
- “Ami regular customer” = Lie convincingly for 5% off
From Readers – Only Locals Can Answer
Q: Where do they really get “export quality” clothes?
A: Factory overruns, rejected shipments, and sometimes just stolen from drying lines
Q: Why do all perfumes smell the same after 10 minutes?
A: Because they’re all the same chemical mix from the same Chandni Chowk supplier
Q: Is there really an underground gambling den?
A: Behind the counterfeit watch shops, but you didn’t hear it from me
Q: How do shopkeepers remember prices for 10,000 items?
A: They don’t – they make it up based on your shoes’ brand
Q: What’s the oldest shop still operating?
A: Rashid Optical – fixing glasses since 1962 with the same cracked lens grinder
Tips
Come early (shops restock at 7 AM), wear stolen-proof clothing, and leave your personal space expectations at home. The real New Market experience isn’t about shopping – it’s about surviving the chaos and emerging with both your purchases and dignity (mostly) intact.
Dhaka New Market: Uncensored FAQs (From a Shopkeeper’s Son)
1. “Is everything really fake here?”
The Brutal Truth:
- 70% of “branded” items are high-quality fakes
- 20% are genuine rejects (slight defects)
- 10% fell off a truck (literally)
How to spot real items: Look for shopkeepers wearing what they sell
2. “Why do prices change every time I ask?”
The 5-tier pricing system:
- Foreigner price (3x actual)
- Local but rich-looking price (2x)
- Regular customer price (1.5x)
- “Bhaiya” price (actual cost +10%)
- Wholesale price (only if you buy 6+ or threaten to call their mother)
3. “Where do the stolen phones go?”
The underground ecosystem:
- First 24 hours: Basement “repair” shops
- Next 48 hours: Facebook Marketplace
- After 1 week: Chittagong wholesale markets
4. “Can I really get military gear?”
Yes, but:
- Real army belts = BDT 1,200 (ask for “special leather”)
- Night vision goggles = “Not for civilians” (wink)
- Actual weapons = Try not to end up on RAB’s list
5. “Why do all perfumes smell like alcohol?”
Because they’re:
- 40% fragrance oil
- 50% local ethanol
- 10% hope
Pro tip: The ones in unmarked bottles last longer
6. “How do I find the secret wholesale section in Dhaka New Market?”
Follow the:
- Men carrying giant sacks
- Smell of fresh plastic
- Sound of heated Bengali bargaining
Location: 3rd floor northeast corner (behind the fake plant shops)
7. “What’s with the sudden power cuts?”
The unofficial schedule:
- 11 AM: Testing your bargaining patience
- 3 PM: Helping pickpockets
- 6 PM: Forcing shops to close
8. “Can I return defective items?”
The hierarchy of refunds:
- Yell loudly = 50% chance
- Bring large male relative = 75%
- Threaten to sit in shop all day = 90%
- Actually sit in shop all day = 100% + free tea
9. “Why do shopkeepers touch everything I look at?”
Psychological tactics:
- Once touched = You “owe” them
- Items moved closer = Harder to walk away
- Fake calculator taps = Fake “best price”
10. “Where do locals really eat near Dhaka New Market?”
The hidden gems:
- Mama’s Paratha (behind Block C): 25 years of greasy perfection
- Biryani Wala (near back exit): Same pot since 1998
- Chai Guru (basement corner): Tea so strong it’ll grow hair on your chest
11. “Is there actually a VIP entrance?”
Yes, but:
- Requires knowing a shopkeeper’s cousin
- Leads to same shops with fancier lighting
- Costs BDT 200 “maintenance fee”
12. “What time do they restock?”
The night shift:
- 2 AM: Smuggled goods arrive
- 4 AM: Factory rejects delivered
- 6 AM: Fake tags being stitched on
13. “How do I avoid pickpockets?”
The 3-pocket rule:
- Front left: Small change for distractions
- Front right: Phone (hand always in pocket)
- Money belt: Real cash (under your shirt)
14. “Why do all jeans look the same?”
Because they’re all from:
- The same 3 factories in Gazipur
- The same 2 designers copying Instagram trends
- The same 1 uncle who thinks “all foreigners want skinny fit”
15. “What’s the oldest surviving shop in New Market?”
Rahman Watch House (since 1961):
- Still uses the same rusty tools
- Still charges BDT 20 for battery replacement
- Still claims “5 minutes” means 2 hours
Final Advice
The real New Market experience isn’t about shopping – it’s about learning to navigate chaos, mastering the art of the deal, and discovering that one honest shopkeeper who becomes your family’s go-to for generations. Thanks for staying with One Light Journal.