The latest go-to place in Dhaka is “At the Table”, a food court at the crossroads of Moghbazar Mor and Eskaton, towards Bangla Motor. This intersection is one of the most chaotic and busiest in the city, making it an unlikely place for an upmarket food court.
Let’s put the spotlight on the city’s odd-jobbers and handymen -- people who take care of our household disasters.
What to do this monsoon, when Dhaka is in a shroud of either oppressive heat or unbearable humidity? Lest we forget the sudden showers, heavy rains, or a light, breezy drizzle? However, the unpredictability of the Dhaka monsoon should not be a killjoy. Instead, fill your weekend calendar with pleasurable activities if you know where the fun is.
Leaving the humid weather under the sweltering sun and entering the atrium full of chatter, noises of elevators and escalators, soft ambient music, and most importantly, the cool air with hints of perfume -- welcome to the Dhaka mall.
I once watched a documentary series featuring abandoned widows of the Hindu sect seeking refuge in Varanasi, India.
Before we delve into the story of the first motor car in Dhaka, it’s worth exploring an earlier question: When did four-wheelers first appear on the city’s roads?
Dhaka still surprises me; can you believe that? Born and brought up in this city, I think I am a true ambassador of the town -- a little eccentric, a tad bit politically volatile, and very angry for no good reason.
The backstreets of Baridhara Diplomatic Zone and Baridhara DOHS, known as Kalachandpur, are an energetic and vibrant neighbourhood that unfortunately suffers from an identity crisis.
“It’s a wonderful experience to see the works of two artists from different mediums in the same exhibition -- works that seem to express their inner thoughts in two different ways, yet woven together by a single thread,” these words from a visitor, Nuzhat Jahan, perfectly encapsulates the exhibition Visually Bimurto by Habibur Rahman and Shamsad Rahman.
The first week of January passed quickly, as we sorted through pictures of Dhaka submitted for our My Dhaka Lens competition.
The mosque is definitely worth a visit for its overallsplendour and beauty.
When speaking about Gulshan and Banani, the two most elegant areas of Dhaka, a polychromatic image of towering skyscrapers, corporate prestige, and the opulence of daily life comes to mind. At the middle of these two urban epicenters, hides another reality that often dismays the people of its neighborhood, named Korail.
The story goes way back, when this piece of artillery was located in a “char” named Moghlani Char
I would not go near Tetulia simply because I love the tropical weather in Dhaka. For the two months that winter lasts here in Bangladesh, this old city is cloaked in a mild chill. That is enough for Dhaka locals to bring out their monkey caps, mufflers, coats, and whatnot.
Hollowed cane chairs with pillowy cushions in white cotton covers surrounded a cane centre table with a glass top, on which, there would be a brass flower vase, posing with beautiful pink roses or gardenias from the garden -- this was how verandas looked years ago in Dhaka, or casual day rooms. Cane furniture was a timeless and vintage home décor style in Dhaka homes of the sixties.
The site was acquired in the 1830s by Khwaja Alimullah, father of Abdul Ghani, from the French. There was a French factory or trading centre on the site.
Often in Dhaka, when we think about animals around us, we most think about lazy cats basking in the sun or brave dogs patrolling neighbourhoods with their ever-watchful eyes.
Have you ever felt a sense of stillness when riding the metro in Dhaka? No, not the kind that implies silence or rest -- Dhaka doesn’t allow for that -- but a quieter hum, like the city holding its breath? I am sure you did, if you somehow managed to take a ride during a less crowded hour, since it’s hard for anyone to even breathe inside during the rush hour!
