February 19, 2019
The dark side of Dhaka's urbanisation
Just over a decade ago, in 2008, almost half of the world's total population used to live in urban areas. This phenomenon has continued and is expected to gain further momentum in future.
September 24, 2018
From Elephants to Motor Cars
Dhaka, the capital of present day Bangladesh, is supposedly a 400-year-old city, established by Islam Khan in the year 1608 or 1610, and has also been the capital of the Mughal Subah (province) of Bengal intermittently. The city started on the banks of the Buriganga and expanded along the river.
July 16, 2018
Islington Corinthians FC: The amateur football club that toured the world
In 1932, Tom Smith, a local councillor and Rotarian, formerly chairman of Tufnell Park FC, from London, England, founded a football club named Islington Corinthians FC in order to raise money for local charities.
April 23, 2018
Mughal Dhaka and its river fortification system
When the Mughals tried to establish their stronghold in this part of Bengal the worst enemy they faced, besides the indomitable Baro Bhuiyans (twelve landlords), were the calamitous nature and the riverine landscape. The streams of constantly shifting water pierced the land into parcels of various sizes and shapes.
March 5, 2018
Armenians in Dhaka
The Armenians most probably came to Bengal before any other European merchants and played an important part in the export-import business of not only Bengal but also the whole of India.
February 5, 2018
The rise and fall of the Dutch in Dhaka
First came the Portuguese; afterwards, more than a century later, came the Dutch. We generally call them "Olondaj" in Bengali ...
January 22, 2018
The Portuguese in Dhaka
The Portuguese were not only the first Europeans to arrive in Bengal but to Dhaka as well. By that time, they were already infamous for their piracy and other adventures on coastal areas, the Sundarbans and along the big rivers.
January 1, 2018
Why Dhaka's liveability is only worsening
DHAKA, the capital of Bangladesh, and one of the fastest growing cities of the world, has been infamous for a while for being over-populated, traffic congested, waterlogged (urban flooding) and polluted (e.g. toxic waste, poor