Dhaka, Jan. 12 -- up announcement has sparked deep anxiety among traders at Kusumpur Bazar in Maheshpur upazila, with many fearing that the initiative could be used as a pretext to evict long-standing businesses from the market.

Traders alleged that the newly appointed market lessee, backed by a section of local influencers, is attempting to exploit the clean-up drive to dismantle selected shops and gain control of valuable government-owned khas land.

According to local sources, Kusumpur Bazar has grown over the years on both private and government land.

Many traders have been operating for decades after constructing shops on khas land, while some private landowners have also expanded their establishments by encroaching on adjoining go...