Surrounded by buildings, the roundish tank is a breather, a recluse to the locals and visitors looking for serenity and recreation. To illustrate, one can go angling there in exchange of a fee.
Founded in circa 1680, historians call it the mosque of Khwaja Ambar, stating that Ambar was the "head eunuch" of subahdar Nawab Shaista Khan.
What is that prominently displayed multi-storied building? The structure is shrouded in mystery, as there is no definite answer as to what purpose the edifice served.
This artwork, from the year 1823, gives a rare glimpse of Boro Katra.
One such painting was created in the year 1861, by Frederick William Alexander de Fabeck, a doctor who served as an assistant surgeon in Bengal during the British colonial era. Today (15 September) is his birthday!
A portion of Old Dhaka’s iconic Mughal monument Boro Katra has recently been demolished. In response, Urban Study Group, an organisation that campaigns for the protection of the architectural heritage of Dhaka, hosted a press conference last Wednesday, where its CEO, Taimur Islam, elaborated on the damages done and called for the protection of this age-old site.
Let’s neither beat about the bush nor indulge in sugar-coating because we neither have the time nor the empathy for any of that. The plain fact is -- Dhaka is an impatient, mean, rude, cruel, and selfish city. Call it “cranky Dhaka” if you will!
The building located at 25 Bangshal Road is a treasure trove of history. On one of the floors of the apartment, there are numerous antiques and artefacts that give us a sneak peek into the city’s history. Not directly related to political histories we read in textbooks, but something more intimate -- glimpses of family and social life in Dhaka of the bygone era.
“If you can drive in Dhaka, you can drive anywhere in the world” – the statement gets casually thrown about when talking about driving in this city. This special “licence” is earned when you’ve mastered the unruly roads of Dhaka and its next-to-impossible traffic.
When someone said she was going to be in the tristate area over the weekend, I courteously asked what time was her flight. After a confused moment, she clarified, visibly irritated by my ignorance, “I meant, around Banani.”
In the otherwise concrete jungle of Dhaka city, the greenery of its parks stand out, both in terms of scenery and the functions they serve. They are places where citizens can jog or take a stroll, or take a break from the hectic city life.
Weeks after life has largely returned to normalcy for many, sweetmeat companies continue to see low sales all across the board. Although the scenario has improved in recent times, it’s still a far cry from the strong numbers of pre-pandemic days.
Indifferent attitude towards Old Dhaka’s heritage buildings is continually turning our fascinating past rather obscure. So much so, even if you walk past an old structure soaked in history, you may not even notice it at all, let alone appreciate it.
The lawn of the Italian ambassador’s residence in the capital last night turned into a celebration of Italian cuisine, where regional delicacies from across the country were featured, with the aim of promoting healthy eating and Mediterranean diet.
Call me old-fashioned, but I am rather unconvinced when it comes to dining out for sehri. For me, it is a meal to be dealt with swiftly and without much fuss at home, with half-closed sleepy eyes and in pyjamas. But it seems for the rest of Dhaka, it is a different story.
Nothing beats good food and great company. To amplify that experience, imagine a band playing your favourite songs while you indulge in scrumptious dishes from a variety of choices -- all in one place.
Nestled between Tin Netar Mazar and court buildings, the mosque-and-tomb compound of Haji Khwaja Shahbaz takes one back to the Mughal era, perhaps because there are no high-rises directly overshadowing its premises.
As one stands in front of the century-old Revati Mohan Lodge in Sutrapur, one cannot help but be in awe of the building's grandeur.
