Why everyone’s quietly moving to Uttara

"Uttara is so far away. Oh God, Uttara traffic! Uttara is a gram (village)!"

These are the things I have to constantly hear and bear because I live in this "far-off land" called Uttara.

In my imagination, Uttara is like Malificent's garden. A magical forest realm bordering a human kingdom, Uttara is considered a model town within the broader Dhaka metropolitan city.

Photo: Star

To the naysayers, know that this planned neighbourhood is one of the divisions within the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and it is greener and more tranquil than many of the posh urban core areas or city centres.

Living in this beautiful suburb in the northern part of Dhaka has both pros and cons, and I agree with that. The distance does pose a problem for many, but it is only 22 km away from the zero point. It is not that far, if you compare it with the time it takes to travel to other outskirts and neighbourhoods adjoining the capital.

The traffic bottlenecks in Uttara are a result of jams on the Tongi-Gazipur highway or on Mymensingh road; otherwise, there are only a few signals inside this well-organised residential area that hamper the flow of traffic.

Photo: Star

In my two decades of living here, I can say that Uttara has become a thriving hub of economic, social, and cultural activities, which was not the case a few years ago.

Thoroughfares and avenues like Rabindra Sarani, Jashimuddin Avenue, Sonargaon Janapath, Gareeb-e-Nawaz Avenue and Gausul Azam Avenue, which were lacklustre when I came to live here, are now booming with restaurants, cafes, rooftop eateries, shopping malls, hotels and offices.

With most of the happening cafes opening their branches in Uttara, the after-office hours, evenings, and weekends have become a routine social activity filled with fun, adding to Uttara's vibrant nightlife.

North End Coffee Roasters at Liberty Tower, which is a 13-story posh commercial building located beside the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Uttara; Gloria Jeans in Navana Centroid, another modern architectural infrastructure in Gareeb-e-Newaz Avenue; KOI Thé Bangladesh, a fancy bubble/boba tea store in Sonargaon Janapath; are all favourite spots for families and young adults.

Photo: Star

Besides regular restaurants, Uttara flaunts two unique options for eating outside -- Yama Hotpot and Grill in Gausul Azam Avenue, which is probably the first of its kind in Dhaka; and Huaxing Chinese Food, which is a hole-in-the-wall kind of authentic Chinese eatery. They do not have fancy or modern ambiance, but they are popular for their authentic flavours and affordable prices.

The warm ambiance of green rooftop cafes, offering a panoramic view of the open fields -- and with their diverse culinary menu, has all added a fun factor to Uttara's soul.

Besides eating out, thrift shopping in Uttara is an added plus point. The street behind Rajlaxmi Complex, the underground markets, and footpath markets have given a new meaning to cheap street shopping. Uttara residents are crazy for the various van markets selling unusual ceramic crockery, bed sheets, curtains, clothing, costume jewellery, etc.

Urban villages on the outskirts of Uttara make its farmers' market one of the best in town. Villagers sell an array of homegrown vegetables and leafy greens with an organic tag.

The colours and tempo of this laid-back but contemporary and versatile residential area give you a calm yet energetic vibe. Uttara is set to become the next commercial and social hub of Dhaka because of its prime location near the MRT and elevated expressway.

This emerging satellite town is a shade of all the fun colours -- yellow, green, blue, black, and pink. And wait till Uttara Third Phase develops, you will all want to get a piece of this coming-of-age suburban area.