A view of the Naya Bati Bird Market in Khalishpur, Khulna, one of the largest bird markets in the country. Photo : BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, Feb 21, 2025 (BSS) - Lining on both sides of the streets, an array of domestic and exotic pigeons are displayed on carts, bicycles and cages, alongside other various breeds.
 
This bustling scene belongs to the Naya Bati Bird Market in Khalishpur of Khulna, one of the largest bird markets in the country.
The marketplace trades cats, fish, ducks, and chickens in addition to birds, making it an aesthetic attraction for bird lovers. Hundreds of bird fans from surrounding districts crowd here at the weekend to buy their favourite species.

The marketplace, located at the Naya Bati intersection in Khalishpur of Khulna city, was established scatteredly by bird traders and fans without any administrative support. So, there need no fees or tolls to the trading.

With a history of spanning for nearly two decades, the market offers a diverse range of pigeons, including Soya Chandan, Lakha, Siraji, King, Jacobin, and Golden Sweet, among others.
 
Additionally, visitors can find other bird species like Mynah, Dove, Parrot, Starling, Turkey, and Quail, as well as aquarium fishes. Essential bird accessories such as cages, feeds, water pots, medicines, and toys are also readily available in the market.
 
The market operates every Friday from 9 AM to noon, transforming the Naya Bati intersection into a lively hub of bird sellers, buyers, and observers.

Akhtar Hossain, one of the regular traders of the market comes here from Mohammadnagar under Batiaghata upazila in Khulna. Last Friday he brought six pairs of Lakha and Jacobin pigeons in the market.

He highlighted the hassle-free environment of the market where buyers and sellers can complete their tool free deals freely at fair price. 

Zillur Rahman of Fulbari in Khulna, who is engaged with this business for last nine years, said there is no other bird market of this scale in this region. 
“Every Friday, I bring a variety of pigeons, pet birds, and cages, and the response from buyers is overwhelming,” he said.

Many people come to the market at the weekend along with their kids for recreation and introduce them with the families of birds. 

BSS talked to such a visitor Jahirul Farazi, a banker of Jashore. He came to the market with his school-going son to see the vast and charming collection of birds.  

“We found a range of pigeons, including Lakha, Siraji, Homer, House Pouter, King Pouter, Ball Pigeon, Pencil Pouter, Lahori, Short Peach, Fillback, Russian Vogla Damla, and Racer Homer,” he said.

His son Fahim, a student of Jashore Zila School is highly fascinated by the variety of birds which he has never seen before. 
He bought two pairs of pigeons after negotiation with the vendor. Prices range from as low as Taka 500 to well over Taka 100,000, catering to wants of all types of buyers.”

Rokonuddin, a pigeon trader from Jashore, started nurturing pigeons as a hobby, which later turned into a full-fledged business. He visits the market regularly to collect new breeds as he considers the market as a prime location due to the availability of diverse species at relatively lower prices. He is also doing business in the market for last five years.

Faridul Islam, an eight-grade student, arrived in the market with five pairs of Quails to sell them and buy a new cage for his pet birds. 

“Prices of cages in shops are higher, so I prefer coming here for both buying and selling,” he said adding that Naya Bati Bird Market has turned into a bustling marketplace for large volume of trading.

Abdus Sobhan, a tea vendor in Khalishpur, noted that he earns double on market days. “Usually I earn around Taka 800–900 a day, but on Friday, it goes up to Taka 1,500 due to the influx of visitors,” he said.

This dynamic marketplace driven by the passion of bird lovers continues to thrive, bringing economic opportunities for many local people.