Authorities have revoked a contract on selling Panjshanbe Bazaar, the largest market in the Tajik northern city of Khujand, to Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) “Fortuna” as illegal.  The decision on revoking the contract was made in 2010 and litigation is continuing.

Administrators of the Panjshanbe Bazaar and vendors running shops at Panjshanbe Bazaar wrote a letter to the Government of Tajikistan noting that numerous violations of the law were committed in taking that decision and asking to deal with the situation.    

According to the letter, CJSC Fortuna acquired the Panjshanbe Bazaar in 1999 in accordance with the law.  

Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s High Economic Court reportedly ruled on April 2, 2010 that the contract on selling the Panjshanbe Bazaar to CJSC “Fortuna” is illegal and the bazaar must be transferred to the Tajik Consumers’ Cooperative Union.        

Panjshanbe BAzaar in 1998.

Panjshanbe Bazaar is one of the most interesting sights in Khujand.  It is regularly mentioned on lists of “Top Bazaars on the Silk Road.”   

Panjshanbe Bazaar after repir.

The name of the covered market Panjshanbe sounds similar to the name of the Tajik capital city – Dushanbe for a reason. Both names mean days of the week: Dushanbe – Monday, Panjshanbe – Thursday. They used to have trade on Mondays in Dushanbe, and on Thursdays in Khujand.

The bazaar consists of main pavilions and stalls, tents and shops adjust to it.  

The main feature of the Panjshanbe market is its unique architecture and design. Construction of the pavilion took place in the middle of the 20th century and finished in 1962.  The interior of the bazaar building combines Soviet and oriental styles.  

Panjshanbe Bazaar offers a big variety of goods, including grocery and non-food.  Foreign tourists definitely recommend each other to visit Panjshanbe Bazaar.