Shops Sealed in Brahmanbaria Stadium Market, Traders Fume.

M Badal Khandaker, District Correspondent, Brahmanbaria. Affected traders have raised serious allegations that shops in the Niaz Muhammad Stadium Market in Brahmanbaria were closed and sealed without any prior notice, despite a stay order and a directive to maintain status quo from the High Court. They say this unilateral action by the district administration and the District Sports Association has left them facing extreme uncertainty and financial loss. Rent and Security Deposit Hike Decision: Traders have been paying rent regularly after getting shop allotments in 2007 by paying the fixed price. Initially the monthly rent was Tk 300, later it was increased to Tk 700 and finally to Tk 1,000. However, on August 24 last, the District Sports Association and the district administration suddenly issued a notice asking for the monthly rent to be increased from Tk 1,000 to Tk 12,000 from July 2026 and an additional Tk 2,75,000 (total Tk 5 lakh) to be deposited as security money. High Court Stay Order and Traders' Anger: The traders said it is inhumane to increase the rent 12 times in one go by treating them as ordinary tenants instead of recognizing them as 'owners'. When a writ petition (Writ Petition No: 13687/2026) was filed in the Honorable High Court Division against this decision, a Division Bench of the High Court issued a stay order on the rent hike notice and an order to maintain status quo on September 21. It has been alleged that the administration came and sealed their shops even before the court's information and lawyer's certificate could reach them. Statement of the Deputy Commissioner: When asked via mobile message about sealing the shops ignoring the High Court order, the Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria and President of the District Sports Association, Md. Abu Sayeed, said, "We have not received any directive from the court. But we heard that they have filed a writ claiming ownership and that they had allegedly bought the shops. We did not sell to anyone. However, we have not received any verdict from the honorable court." The traders have strongly demanded that the closed shops be reopened immediately, upholding the court's order.