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,
The sky glows in soft pink, blending into the gentle waves while a cool breeze fills the air with serenity. Sitting on the only boat floating in the middle of the Buriganga, preparing ourselves for iftar, it’s not hard to get lost in the beauty of the moment.
But did you know that he was a man of literature as well?
I have read somewhere that the best part of iftar is sharing the moment with your family, although not everyone is lucky enough to spend the month of Ramadan with loved ones.
Tailors typically enjoy star status at this time of the year. Besides your regular tailor, who takes your bespoke orders for dresses; there are tailors for upholstery work, who are no less busy and sought after now.
The artistes were illustrious not just in our city; their repute spanned throughout the Mughal Empire in general.
Chandni was one of the favourites of the iconic Mughal subahdar in Dhaka, Nawab Islam Khan
Subbasi is a Bengali-influenced dialect that is now spoken by original residents of Dhakaiya community
Have you ever felt the pulse of Dhaka in Ramadan? The way this unforgiving city pauses just before sunset? As if it’s holding its breath with the rest of us, then exhaling in unison with the call to prayer?
What is hardship food? I had no idea. The thought of what people eat during natural calamities, war, displacement and such, never came to my mind. It is something we do not think about unless we start to live in destitution.
The Daily Star’s “My Dhaka” recently ran a photography contest titled “My Dhaka Lens,” where people were asked to submit their entries on the theme of Dhaka -- anything that embodies the beauty, soul, or essence of our city.
