It is as if Dhaka has been sleeping for the last few days.
When we talk about libraries, what image first comes to our minds?
On one hand, it is a traditional dish and PahelaBaishakh is a festival where we celebrate our culture -- not just with songs, crafts, etc., but also with food. Moreover, it is absolutely delicious! You can indulge in it with other deshi delicacies as well, be it with the delightful ilishorthe spicy bhortas.
Most Dhakaites have a sweet tooth. We just cannot do without a sweet end to our meals, be it licking your fingers on Kashmiri mango achar, tomato chutney, or slurping up the daal (lentil soup) mixed with sweet, jujube and tamarind pickle.
Are you looking for the spirit of Eid celebrations in Dhaka? Here are the top 5 spots.
Nawajesh Salahin Sunny’s fame was sitting at his factory in a zen-like state of mind amidst scattered wooden planks and huge containers. His craftsmen noisily worked all over the place; while he supervised the work being done to give the factory a showroom-like facelift.
This place holds a lot of historical significance because of its age and also because once upon a time the rulers of Dhaka used to offer Eid prayers here.
On a sunny afternoon in October 1993, my mother took me to visit the campus of St Joseph Higher Secondary School, nestled among large trees on a relatively quiet (at least back then) road of Asad Avenue in Mohammadpur.
Eid shopping has already begun in full swing and shoes are one of the indispensable items on your want list.
Two-thirds of the Holy Month is over, and food prices are at an all-time high. Despite strict surveillance by magistrates to control price hikes and adulteration of food, this Ramadan, like always, traders are doing everything against the law.
When was the last time you spent an entire month of Ramadan without eating haleem at least once? This food has indeed survived the test of time!
Night-time shopping has a certain charm to it, almost a like starry-eyed rebellion. Come Ramadan, staying out late into the wee hours has almost become a trend for Dhakaites.
Dhaka North’s newest venture is painting murals on flyovers, dustbin depots, free walls and spaces to make city streets look vibrant and colourful.
Haque added, “Instead of bulldozing history, they could have renovated and preserved the school and turned it into a Hall of Fame for all its illustrious alumni. It could have been a library for children of the city schools to come and learn about the country’s famous sons.”
Around a couple of months ago, the age-old Dhaka Gate near Doyel Chattar was unveiled to the public upon its renovation. If you visit the Gate, now in renewed glory, you are bound to see an imposing artefact in its premises -- a cannon called Bibi Mariam.
This hints towards a monopoly Chawk Bazar enjoyed in the olden times.
If you ask anyone what would be a defining trait of Dhaka, the notorious traffic congestion might be one of the answers.
Jilapi or jelebi, Ramzan or Ramadan; whichever way you say it, #jilapis is now a trending post on social media. And why not? It is the quintessential iftar delicacy second to none.