Nilkhet is often the first name that springs to mind for affordable books. It's chaotic and always busy, like a labyrinth of books: academic, non-academic, fiction, whatnot. If you have time and endless energy, you can find rare copies and editions of classics outside this 'book sanctuary'.
But Dhaka's bookshops are beyond Nilkhet. At some places, you will get copies beyond your budget, and some are like hidden gems; you have to walk and walk to get a classic for 50 taka. In this write-up, we will explore places where readers can discover works by Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Rabindranath Tagore, and Ahmed Sofa at comparatively low prices.
Purana Paltan
Opposite Baitul Mukarram lies Topkhana Road. Top means cannon, and Khana is house in this context; the place Topkhana was an artillery depot that once stood here during the East India Company era. The name 'Paltan' is believed to have been derived from the English military term 'platoon', as the area's history as a British East India Company cantonment. Now, if you pass under the Metro Rail's way, you won't see cannons but lots of books. Magazines, new and old, newspapers, notebooks and novels- some are recent, and some are decades old. If you are lucky, you may find an old dedication note on the front page what used to be the culture of boomers when they used to present books to someone.
Purana Paltan specialises almost exclusively in second-hand books, with a collection that feels like a deep dive into literary history, featuring everything from translated editions of European classics to the works of Bengali writers.
"I bought four books for Tk 80. The shopkeeper said whatever I pick, it's Tk 20 only. I got classics of Bangla literature including Nazrul and Tagore. That's unbelievable," said Tahsin Ahmed, a student browsing the stalls.
The sheer volume of books and the thrill of book hunting are major draws. "We have a few partners. Sometimes students come to sell their used books. Sometimes people return novels after reading them. We are more than happy to buy those," explained a young seller, Md Babu, about the supply chain of the books on his stall.
Mirpur 10
The Mirpur 10 book market offers a welcome alternative to the long ride to Nilkhet. Stretching from the Mirpur 10 roundabout towards the indoor stadium, this market is a strip of footpath stalls having a diverse selection of new and used books. Its proximity to the metro station makes it incredibly accessible.
The speciality here lies in its academic collection. Still, its shelves are also packed with non-academic titles, including English and Bangla classics. The market is home to dedicated shops like Raifa Book House and Amena Book House & Stationery, which offer a wide range of books.
One of the challenges of this market is the weather. Due to rain, sellers face hurdles to save their precious stock. Yet, for the dedicated bookworm, the hunt through the stalls of Mirpur 10 is a rewarding experience, because you can buy some copies for 500 taka.
You can't avoid Bangla Bazar
This is a different kind of experience located in Old Dhaka, surrounded by old churches, a university and schools, giving it a unique identity that other book markets don't have: heritage.
Years ago, Bangla Bazar was a trading hub for local and foreign traders, especially landlords and British, French, Armenian, and many other traders. Then it turned into a book market; big publications used to publish books here, getting great paper support from Naya Bazar and Armanitola.
Now Bangla Bazar is a fantastic place to find mint editions; a welcome change from the well-worn copies found in second-hand markets.
You can secure high-quality translations and recently published editions of both Bengali and English classics at affordable prices here.
For classic lovers, one can find new books, especially by new writers, at a reasonable price at Bangla BBazar.
Aziz Super Market, Shahbagh
Just a short walk from Nilkhet, Aziz Super Market has long been a meeting place for writers, artists, students, and book lovers.
Its independent bookstores offer carefully curated collections rather than endless shelves, making browsing a pleasant experience.
Readers can discover English classics writers such as Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and George Orwell, as well as Bangla masterpieces by Akhtaruzzaman Elias, Humayun Ahmed, Syed Waliullah, and many more.
The vintage bookshops of New Market
A wide-open space in the middle, books resting on the wooden shelves that are 7 decades old: this is a common sight at the Mokarram bookshop in Dhaka New Market.
Once home to over 50 bookstores, now limited to a few, around 10-12 remain. This is where the historic Zeenat Book Supply stood for decades before closing in 2023.
Md Reazul Hakim, owner of Book Syndicate, which has been in the lane since 1954, regrets saying, "We sell original books, and as you can imagine, they can be costly. Piracy has taken the market off balance."
Despite this, the remaining shops are a testament to an era. They offer a curated selection of original, high-quality classic literature, a stark contrast to the photocopied versions found elsewhere.
Md Jumma, owner of Aligarh Library, attributes the decline to changing times, saying, "There is no desire for knowledge, no desire to read." Comparatively, the prices of books at the New Market ar costly. Like Nilkhet, you cannot get a copy within 50 taka; for that, it has to be very old. But for those who still have a passion for walking and buying books on a budget of 500 to 1000 taka, they can visit the New Market.
Bookshops are not like regular shops. Throughout history, they have served as hubs for thinkers, writers and creative people.
Unlike large commercial bookstores, vendors in these markets are happy to recommend titles, negotiate prices, or even help locate rare books.
If you have a tight budget but want to buy Letters to Milena or some European and Japanese tales, preserve your energy and pack your bag for these places. You never know what you'll get from the 'canons' of Purana Paltan or between the wooden shelves of a bookshop at Bangla Bazar- maybe a hidden gem or maybe a story of book-hunting worth telling.
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