In Urban Dhaka

The residents in urban Dhaka are slowly stepping back into their normal lives – attending late night weddings, stepping into an eatery near the office for lunch, and meeting up with friends for weekend coffee as well. However, the fact that fear still looms over the city, after the July 1 attacks at the Holey Artisan, is evident. Coffee shops and restaurants which would stay open till after midnight – where friends would get together for hot chocolate, meetings would take place or someone would simply sit there with a book or a lap top – now close by 10 pm. In fact, to add to it all, many restaurants are now closing down because of the recent drives by Rajuk.

In a city where the weekend activity mainly comprises of eating out, life has become monotonous, now that most of the Dhakaites prefer to spend time with friends and loved ones in the safety of their homes.

However, in a city like Dhaka, which showcases culture, history, heritage, literature and so much of vibrancy – surely there are things that families and friends can do for quality and fun!

For Saira Tasnim Sabeen, eating out was almost a daily affair. She and her friends made it a point to eat out at new places in the city. "It doesn't matter how far away the restaurant or the eatery is, or what the ambience is like, I check out everything!" A banker, but most importantly a food reviewer, Sabeen says that if 52 percent of a restaurant is 'food', the rest is 'service, approach and attitude. "It doesn't matter how fancy a restaurant is – if the environment seems hostile, arrogant and unfriendly, customers will run away! You need to be in a home away from your home." At the moment, the perfect home that Sabeen enjoys away from her home is a tea shop right next to her office. "I love the shop and the tea is amazing!" she exclaims. "They prepare the tea with the cream of the milk and the process is very specific. However, I like it mainly because sometimes I step put of the chaos inside the bank and read in the tea shop. It's safe and friendly and no less than one of the fancy coffee shops that I go to with friends."

Tayeb Ahmed is a businessman in the Dhanmondi area, lives with his mother, wife and two children in Panthopoth. Hailing from Barishal, Ahmed moved to the capital in the mid 90s and fell in love with it. "As a student of Dhaka College, I used to walk to all the areas in the city," he says. "I think I have seen more of the city than any other man my age! I know where the best tea is sold, where the palmists sit, the alleyways in Bangla Bazaar and a cheap place to eat rice in Motijheel. Now that I am a businessman, I get to go to Uttara, Gulshan and Mirpur to different buying houses as well. As a student I would also just hop on to a bus and visit districts and zilas. Bangladesh is indeed a very beautiful country!"

Ahmed makes sure that his family members are exposed to all the landmarks in Dhaka and makes it a point to pay a visit every week. "My children are a regular at the Shishu Park, the Sreeti Shodh and even the different exhibition halls where they enjoy paintings and photography. A few months back, there was a folk musician who had come all the way from Shitakundo, Chittagong and was performing at the Mukto Moncho in Dhanmondi. We went there a little early so that the family could relax and have a bit to eat. My son and I played football, after which, we listened to the music. Next week, I plan to take my family to the National Museum. If you think of it, there are many activities one can do in Dhaka city with family members and they are not expensive at all!"

It's time to get up and discover Dhaka the way we never did – exploring the monuments, taking a heritage walk, boating, visiting the Bishwa Shahittyo Kendra, or just kicking ball at the nearby park. As long as you are a part of a group and know that you are in a safe area, go ahead and enjoy!