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When an official of a private bank named Taher Mridha has faced an engine problem in his car, he approached a mechanic at an automobile service centre. Then, the mechanic told him that he needs a spare part to fix the problem.
However, the mechanic said that he does not have the spare part. So, it has to be bought from outside.
Taher searches for the spare part in different parts of Dhaka, but in vain. Finally, he finds it in old Dhaka’s Dholaikhal recondition and second-hand car spare parts market.
Like him, many car and garage owners also depend on these recondition and second-hand spare parts shops in Dholaikhal.
But the traders of recondition and second-hand spare parts in Dholaikhal market said that their business is not good in the post-pandemic period. They also claim that their business has declined by almost 50 per cent in the last two or three years. “Now we are struggling for survival,” one of the traders said.
Business down 50 per cent
Haji Md Israfil, President of Bangladesh Recondition Engine and Motor Parts Merchant Association and owner of Israfil Morots in Dholaikhal, told The Business Post that their business is not good now. “Business is much less now than other times. Our business has dropped by around 50 per cent to 60 per cent.”
Echoing him, Dholaikhal Tong Market Baboshay Somobay Somiti Ltd Secretary Md Saydul Bari told The Business Post that their business came to a halt due to the outbreak of coronavirus. “After this, business was supposed to be a little better, but it has been hit by the economic recession.”
He said that now import of reconditioned parts remains suspended. Besides, prices of essential goods have increased by 20-30 per cent. “So, we are now struggling to keep this business afloat.”
Struggling for survival
This correspondent talked to at least 20 businessmen in Dholaikhal. They all claim that they are now striving for survival.
Sathi Motor’s owner Md Rony told The Business Post that he sells and works on car headlights, doors and engines. Earlier, he used to pay salary to his employees with what he earned and lived well. But he is now struggling to survive.
Jisan Khan, one of the owners of Ifty Motors, said that now the owner doesn’t come to fix the car unless it’s a big problem. “Those who had two cars are now using one car.”
Both of them said that as import of car spare parts has remained stopped, the prices of accessories are also going up now.
Still the best market for auto spare parts
Driver Md Shopon said he has been driving for about 20 years in different companies. He sees car trouble many times in his life while performing official duty. He has repaired cars in various garages.
“But accessories are not available there, so I am dependent on Dholaikhal. It is still the best for car reconditioning and second-hand spare parts.”
Garage owner Md Sohel Hossain said that he has been working in the garage as a mechanic for almost 30 years and gathered lots of work experience. “But many times, I faced problem to fix the car for a small spare part. When it was not available in other or nearby markets, its good solution is in Dholaikhal.”
Abdur Rahman, an employee of Jannatul Motors, said that now there are many shops in Dhaka and various districts. “But when people can’t get any accessories, then the last hope is Dholaikhal. All kinds of parts from nuts-bolts to engines are available here.”
“We have first-hand experience. If we can’t find spare parts here, we can fix the car through alternative means. Dholaikhal is the place where people still have trust,” said Rubel Hossain, manager of Satta Motors.
Over 3,000 shops
Dholaikhal’s recondition and second-hand accessories businessmen said that they don’t really have any accurate statistics on the shops and market size.
Saydul Bari said that although there are no statistics, there are more than 3,000 reconditioned and second-hand spare parts shops in Dholaikhal.
Without showing any data, Haji Md Israfil said, the Dholaikhal-based recondition and second-hand shop market is over hundreds of crore of taka.
Employment for about 10-15 thousand people
Md Rahim who sells different types of horns and cable on the pavement said that he collected these from different garages in Dhaka.
In Dholaikhal, many people like Rahim were seen sitting on roads arranging small car parts.
Three workers are seen busy cleaning an engine. One of them, Islam Hossain, said that almost 3 to 4 people work for almost every shop.
Bangladesh Recondition Engine and Motor Parts Merchant Association President Haji Md Israfil said that around 10,000 to 15,000 people are directly or indirectly involved in Dholaikhal recondition and second-hand market.
