Before the sun rises over Dhaka’s Korail slum, many mothers set out early for a long day of work, carrying the unspoken worry of who will care for their children while they are away.
There are thousands of people in Dhaka, each living a different life. But a few things are constant for all. Apart from the unavoidable traffic and the signal at Bijoy Sarani, their love-hate relationship with rain unites most of them.
Recent tragedies in Bangladesh have brought to our attention the urgency to recognise the need for mental trauma healing.
Long before Dhaka became a noisy sprawl of rickshaws, traffic, and concrete, it was a quieter, more graceful place. One posing for a German man with a camera and a keen eye for elegance.
I have never been to the legendary Beauty Boarding in Shiris Das Lane, Bangla Bazar. I know, it is an unpardonable offense, and I should probably be denied my self-proclaimed title as a Dhaka-know-all.
There’s something about rain in Dhaka. It doesn’t come politely. It arrives in sheets, in sideways gusts, soaking your bag, your back, and your plans. But once you let go of the instinct to rush for shelter, there’s a certain honesty to it -- the kind that peels off layers. You notice the city differently when it’s wet and slow.
When you’re on the streets of Dhaka, perhaps idly sitting in the backseat of a vehicle, if you take a minute to stop doom-scrolling and stare out through the windows, you will more than likely see drama unfolding before your eyes!
The latest go-to place in Dhaka is “At the Table”, a food court at the crossroads of Moghbazar Mor and Eskaton, towards Bangla Motor. This intersection is one of the most chaotic and busiest in the city, making it an unlikely place for an upmarket food court.
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.
