Things a Chittagonian Misses in Dhaka

People from Chittagong can be found all over Dhaka. Be it for work, education or other purposes, the Chittagong contingent makes up a sizeable portion of Dhaka city's mammoth population. All of us can relate to missing various aspects of Chittagong when we leave our beloved hometown for the populous capital. Here are some of them:

The Chatgaiya dialect: Like oxygen, this most emotive of dialects permeates the air of Chittagong. Everyone misses a "Ken ason?" (How are you?), or "Vukh laiggina?" (Are you hungry?) away from home.

Fresh seafood: Due to Chittagong's proximity to the sea, fresh and chemical-free seafood is a tummy-pleasing reality. In Dhaka, even if you find such seafood, the price can be a deterrent.

Mezban: For Chittagonians, beef is not a food choice but a way of life. And the jewel in the beef crown is the wonderful "mezban". Though many places in Dhaka claim to offer authentic mezban beef, very few actually come close to offering that distinct taste of home.

Hills: Hills spread throughout the landscape define the greater Chittagong area. Away from home, the twisting roads and stunning views of the hills are sorely missed. 

The sea: No discussion about Chittagong is complete without bringing up the sea. Breathing in the cool ocean breeze and walking on the beach, all the while the sea roars on – living in Dhaka painfully deprives one of such simple pleasures.

Tolerable traffic: Living in a city where a 2 km journey can easily take 2 hours, it's easy to forget how relatively normal traffic feels like. In Chittagong, whatever hour or day it may be, you won't spend a movie's worth of time stuck in one spot (okay, you might if you cross port road during evening). 

The long drive destinations: Not to say Dhaka offers poor choices in this regard, but Chittagong definitely reigns supreme. On a whim, you can drive to the sea, to stunning hill tract locations like Rangamati and Bandarban, or if you are feeling particularly adventurous, even Cox's Bazar.

Greenery: In general, the greater Chittagong area is simply closer to nature than greater Dhaka. Patches of green pop up every now and then, and tree-covered hills are a staple of the region. The stark, concrete landscape of the capital can often make Chittagonians yearn for the familiar sight of foliage.

Affordable transportation: Getting from point A to point B can be an expensive venture in Dhaka, thanks in no small part to the chronic gridlock. The reasonable transportation costs of Chittagong are sorely missed during these moments.

Be as it may that Chittagonians tend to miss these things and more while staying in Dhaka, this is not the whole picture. Even as an outsider, the hustle and bustle, the diversity of people, the numerous things to experience in Dhaka can make you fall in love with the capital too. 

Novo Manzoor is an athlete. He surfs the web all day. You can reach him at: novo_manzoor@yahoo.com