Dhaka often feels like a city suffocating in its own chaos. I see it every day -- the heavy dust, the sky dulled by smoke, the endless traffic, the honking that never stops. It all makes the city seem tired, almost desaturated. Sometimes, I wonder how we manage to live in this endless traffic and concrete surrounding us. I often find myself exhausted by it, filled with a desire for something that heals our souls.

But then comes Baishakh, bringing bougainvillea with it. As summer covers Dhaka in heat and dust, vibrant bougainvillea begins to bloom -- I suddenly notice splashes of colour breaking through the grey. Bougainvillea, or as we call it by its beautiful Bengali name, Baganbilash, begins to take over.

It's a surprising contrast. This city of endless grey suddenly coming to life with bursts of pink, magenta, purple, red or orange bracts.  The bougainvillea doesn't ask for permission, it just spills over balconies, climbs up rusty gates and wraps itself around old brick walls. It doesn't demand any attention, it simply blooms, wild and free.

Photo: Jawwad Sami Neogi

Once known as Kagaj Ful or Kagaji Ful (Paper Flower) in our mother tongue, is now known by the name gifted by Rabindranath Tagore. He first saw it in the garden of an Englishman and found its name "Bougainvillea" too formal, so he renamed it 'Baganbilash.' The flower that transforms a regular building or a paint-faded wall into something truly bilashi (luxurious) -- no wonder it deserves to be named so beautifully!

As I walk under the bougainvillea's shade, they make me pause and appreciate the beauty around. Surrounded by the chaos, I see rickshaw pullers resting under the bougainvillea tree, tired after working all day in the hot sun. For a moment, Dhaka feels lighter, brighter and vibrant. I breathe relaxed, overwhelmed by the simple yet stubborn beauty of a plant that refuses to fade.

Does it understand the sorrow of the city? I think not. It just quietly soothes the sorrows around.

Photo: Jawwad Sami Neogi

I love the fact that bougainvillea grows wherever it chooses, refusing to be within limits. There is something deeply meaningful about that -- a reminder that beauty finds a way, even in the most unexpected places. And in a city like Dhaka, that reminder means everything to me.

I often wonder if those who planted them ever imagined the impact. Did they picture someone like me stopping for a moment, from my busy life just to admire a flower? Did they know that in a city often struggling to breathe, something as simple as bougainvillea could bring unexpected joy? Perhaps they did. Or perhaps the bougainvillea simply bloomed on its own, unaware of the blessings it brought.

Photo: Jawwad Sami Neogi

Bougainvillea doesn't erase the pollution, the traffic jams or the daily frustrations we hold, but it offers a beautiful distraction. And for that, I am grateful. It reminds me that, despite everything, Dhaka is still alive.