The Land beyond the Airport
I just have to write this article in response to the wide range of annoying questions that I'm often bombarded with when I reveal where my house is located. I hope by the end of this article, everyone reading this would know that we, the Uttara residents, are not extraterrestrial life forms who hail from a land far beyond the reaches of our solar system.
Most people believe Uttara is located somewhere in a village far away from the city. Well, I can assure you that it is well within the boundaries of Dhaka and like other locations, easily accessible from the common parts of the city. As for it being a jungle which hasn't caught up with human civilization yet, trust me, we have very big buildings. There's an air of serenity and homeliness that some other areas may lack; and to us Uttara folks, there's no better place to live in.
Furthermore, it is home to big shopping malls, where you are likely to find anything you need, and the main campuses of some of Dhaka's elite English medium schools like the Aga Khan School, Scholastica, and the International Turkish Hope School. It goes without saying we also have branches of the more popular restaurants and shops here, as well. You don't have those in jungles, do you?
What makes me feel lucky to call this place my home is that I find something here that I couldn't in any other location: peace. The air is cooler, the sidewalks are not congested with crowds of people, and the streets are not filled to the brim with noisy cars. In addition, there are various fields and parks where people can indulge in games and sports while others can simply go for respite.
What makes it all the more better is the fact that going from point A to point B inside Uttara does not take long as you can easily walk or take a rickshaw to your desired location. One thing that I'd like to add to the list of reasons why I love this place is that if you get to the rooftop of any tall building, you can experience the breathtaking view of the Hazrat ShahJalal International Airport runway. Imagine cooling off on the roof with the wind in your hair and the majestic view of planes taking off and landing right in front of your eyes. It is truly a sight to behold.
Although it's true that it's often hard to commute to and from work or university since they are quite far away from Uttara and that it is sort of detached from the rest of the capital city, Uttara will always be the perfect place for me to return from a hard, strenuous day, and fall asleep in.
Tahmeed Chaudhury is a diehard Liverpool fan and procrastinator who dislikes being asked questions. Don't ask him questions at tahmeed789@gmail.com