In Dhaka, we live almost a vertical life!

The royal Poinciana may be native to Madagascar, but it feels like it has belonged to us for years. We call it by our own beautiful name -- Krishnachura -- as if it knows Dhaka’s summers by heart and waits all year just to remind us that Dhaka is still beautiful.

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan is renowned for building the Taj Mahal, but few know that he also spent a week in Dhaka -- long before he ascended the throne.

Every locality in this city has stories, and none seem to speak louder than the anecdotes shared by walls! Case in point: Shantinagar! Having lived here for over four decades, I am no stranger to the tales they offer, and curiously, these narratives are ever-changing.

Fuchka is an unhealthy but delightful bite of sin that we Dhakaites cannot do without. No matter which corner of the globe we live in, our periodic craving for this tangy street food makes us homesick, or perhaps fuchka sick.

Though the first thing you notice right after entering might be the colours, since they are vibrant, generous, full of life, but there is something more, the scent of something older might carry you away.

Living in this beautiful suburb in the northern part of Dhaka has both pros and cons

Dhaka doesn’t have a city square per se, but places like Shahbagh and areas around Motijheel serve as a sort of one.

The atmosphere at Safiuddin Shilpalay in Dhanmondi was electric on the evening of May 2 as the newly founded art collective called Choukaath inaugurated its first group exhibition.

Art studios and exhibitions are great storytellers. We often say that a picture is worth a thousand words. In that sense, any sort of visual art has a lot to say. Brihatta Art Foundation’s exhibition, called “Paal”, has that same essence.

A multisensory exhibition, titled “Where the Spirit Meets the Bone”, is currently on display at Satori Academy of Arts in the capital’s Banani. This striking exhibit attempts to explore the many layers of human emotions -- from personal wounds to global issues, intimate loss and grief of rediscovering inner self -- through an interplay of sensory cues like touch, sound, or scent.

Once upon a time in Dhaka, telephone operators and postmen were the most revered service providers, especially for a young adult in love or an elderly parent residing in any mufassil town.

Often, on my way to the office from Dhanmondi to Mohakhali, I pass through at least three or four major traffic signals -- the stubborn standstill at Dhanmondi 27, the long, impatient pause at Khamarbari, and the inevitable gridlock at Farmgate.

A 'katra' is essentially a caravanserai — a traveller's inn of sorts. It was established around the mid-17th century.

Essentially a research-based, artist-run, non-profit organisation, Brihatta Art Foundation has worked in Dhaka for quite some time. With an objective to integrate locals in community development, they have given the people of Hazaribagh greater accessibility to art and culture.

Imagine entering a gallery filled with canvases, where sepia-toned papers with brittle edges and faded ink burst into life with vibrant colours and witty catchphrases from ancient Bengal. On his 20th solo exhibition — the versatile artist Arham-ul-Huq Chowdhury presents one such immersive show titled “Decorated Deeds: Bangla Calligraphy on Antique Documents” (Dolile Drishyapot).

A three-day collectable exhibition titled “Dhaka Numis Show 2025”, organised by Old Dhaka Collectors Society (ODCS) was held at the National Museum from April 18 to 20. The event brought together collectors, currency researchers, and enthusiasts from all over Bangladesh.

I went to the Lalbagh area last Saturday to finalise an interesting project for My Dhaka readers (stay tuned), but this business meet-and-greet was unlike any I had ever attended or conducted.

Dhaka often feels like a city suffocating in its own chaos.

On February 25, 2025, Iqramul Hasan Shakil began his “Sea to Summit” expedition -- walking from Cox’s Bazar to the summit of Mount Everest. Only one person,