My Dhaka

My Dhaka

Charukola’s unsung hero: Sentu and his animal friends

Dhaka has its own noise. Along with it, it also has its own rush, distractions and plenty of dust. But if you pause for just a moment, you’ll see that this city also has its quiet pockets! Its little moments of stillness, almost like unsung poetry!

1d ago

Telltale signs that you have entered Dhaka city

The holidays are almost over! By tomorrow, the city will revert to its default setting, a busy Dhaka with busy people. Most of the dwellers are either headed towards the capital or will be starting for the metropolis soon. This brings an interesting question to mind: When do you feel like you ar

6d ago

Dhaka’s silent sole keepers: Cobblers of the street

In Dhaka, we live almost a vertical life!

2w ago

Beneath the grey sky, the red tree sings

The royal Poinciana may be native to Madagascar, but it feels like it has belonged to us for years. We call it by our own beautiful name -- Krishnachura -- as if it knows Dhaka’s summers by heart and waits all year just to remind us that Dhaka is still beautiful.

2w ago

Shah Jahan’s Dhaka campaign: A Mughal history footnote!

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan is renowned for building the Taj Mahal, but few know that he also spent a week in Dhaka -- long before he ascended the throne.

3w ago

A wall’s eye-view diary of a neighbourhood

Every locality in this city has stories, and none seem to speak louder than the anecdotes shared by walls! Case in point: Shantinagar! Having lived here for over four decades, I am no stranger to the tales they offer, and curiously, these narratives are ever-changing.

3w ago

Missing Dhaka? One bite of fuchka brings you home

Fuchka is an unhealthy but delightful bite of sin that we Dhakaites cannot do without. No matter which corner of the globe we live in, our periodic craving for this tangy street food makes us homesick, or perhaps fuchka sick.

4w ago

Shambhu acharya’s solo exhibition: Art that carries years of legacy

Though the first thing you notice right after entering might be the colours, since they are vibrant, generous, full of life, but there is something more, the scent of something older might carry you away.

1m ago

Exploring identity, memory and emotion

The atmosphere at Safiuddin Shilpalay in Dhanmondi was electric on the evening of May 2 as the newly founded art collective called Choukaath inaugurated its first group exhibition.

1m ago

Brihatta Paal: Moving through memories, myths, motion

Art studios and exhibitions are great storytellers. We often say that a picture is worth a thousand words. In that sense, any sort of visual art has a lot to say. Brihatta Art Foundation’s exhibition, called “Paal”, has that same essence.

1m ago

Where the spirit meets the bone: A multisensory exhibition to soothe your soul

A multisensory exhibition, titled “Where the Spirit Meets the Bone”, is currently on display at Satori Academy of Arts in the capital’s Banani. This striking exhibit attempts to explore the many layers of human emotions -- from personal wounds to global issues, intimate loss and grief of rediscovering inner self -- through an interplay of sensory cues like touch, sound, or scent.

1m ago

Dhaka’s love for deliveries

Once upon a time in Dhaka, telephone operators and postmen were the most revered service providers, especially for a young adult in love or an elderly parent residing in any mufassil town.

1m ago

Dhaka’s Signal Economy

Often, on my way to the office from Dhanmondi to Mohakhali, I pass through at least three or four major traffic signals -- the stubborn standstill at Dhanmondi 27, the long, impatient pause at Khamarbari, and the inevitable gridlock at Farmgate.

1m ago

An elusive painting of Boro Katra from 1863!

A 'katra' is essentially a caravanserai — a traveller's inn of sorts. It was established around the mid-17th century.

1m ago

Brihatta’s quiet revolution in Hazaribagh

Essentially a research-based, artist-run, non-profit organisation, Brihatta Art Foundation has worked in Dhaka for quite some time. With an objective to integrate locals in community development, they have given the people of Hazaribagh greater accessibility to art and culture.

1m ago

Dolile drishyapot: A celebration of Bangla calligraphy

Imagine entering a gallery filled with canvases, where sepia-toned papers with brittle edges and faded ink burst into life with vibrant colours and witty catchphrases from ancient Bengal. On his 20th solo exhibition — the versatile artist Arham-ul-Huq Chowdhury presents one such immersive show titled “Decorated Deeds: Bangla Calligraphy on Antique Documents” (Dolile Drishyapot).

1m ago

Dhaka numis show 2025: Preserving history through collectables

A three-day collectable exhibition titled “Dhaka Numis Show 2025”, organised by Old Dhaka Collectors Society (ODCS) was held at the National Museum from April 18 to 20. The event brought together collectors, currency researchers, and enthusiasts from all over Bangladesh.

1m ago

Old Dhaka’s food trail: A nostalgic gastronomic adventure

I went to the Lalbagh area last Saturday to finalise an interesting project for My Dhaka readers (stay tuned), but this business meet-and-greet was unlike any I had ever attended or conducted.

2m ago