M H Haider

You may have visited Ahsan Manzil — or at least know of it — but did you ever encounter this dilapidated gateway? 

Located in Munshiganj, the 17th century river fort is beyond the hustle and bustle of the more common tourist spots, and gives a rather different experience compared to the grander Mughal edifices that are spread all over the Indian subcontinent.

Another etymology that somewhat resonates with the aforementioned one is that Motijheel was the name of a canal or rivulet that flowed in or around the area; then, the label was referred to a particular pond, and eventually, an overall locality adopted the name. 

After all, we are talking about a graveyard that is very old. According to Perween Hasan's chapter in the book "Dhaka Past, Present, Future," the oldest grave in the compound dates back to 1774!

The building has ceased to exist, but the graves are still there, along with a few graves of their family and acquaintances.

Discover the quirky characters in your office chat groups: the Pioneer, Mime Artist, Podcaster, Alien, Ghost, and Boss. From endless GIFs to unwelcome voice notes, identify and laugh at these familiar faces!

When we refer to the very familiar Shahidullah Hall, our minds do not often register the legendary maestro of a man after whom this student residence is named, let alone the fact that it was once referred to as Dacca Hall. 

At 3 AM, a desolate neighborhood leads to an unexpected encounter with a stranded woman. A writer’s late-night walk turns into a memorable story, highlighting the beauty of spontaneous connections and the charm of quiet streets.

It is inspiring to see the role of rickshaw-pullers in and around the student protests in Bangladesh.

Fake news existed even before the internet, but with the World Wide Web and social media, the problem has been elevated to a whole different level. Add to that the protests and volatility Bangladesh — and many other places in the world – have been witnessing, what you have is a breeding ground for fake news.

Call me the lord of useless things but it is indeed with peculiar curiosity I notice some of the student leaders in casual wear, even on the most formal of occasions. I will remember these the next time I am invited to any black tie event!

What can songs do? A lot, actually! They can win hearts and also aid in unsettling an entire system and dethroning the powerful. We have been reminded of the latter during the recent student protests and a powerful reminder it was as the Gen Z of Bangladesh took old, patriotic songs and used them in a modern context.

The mayhem that swept over the nation is still alive and vivid in our memories. The harrowing violence that has been carried out will forever remain imprinted in our hearts. Hence the question that haunts us all: after what has happened, can we ever get over this?

A sundial, simply put, is an archaic device of telling time. Not your ordinary clock!

Musa Khan died of a long illness in April 1623, just around a decade after Dhaka became a Mughal capital. 

Monsoon has always been a joyous season for me. People speak of the monsoon blues but the rains come with a sense of thrill and awe, especially in the brief minutes just before it actually starts pouring.

Splendid in appearance as they are, the three halls also hold a lot of history.

A small but graceful-looking memorial that stands at a corner of the TSC field in Dhaka University is a reminder of that Greek presence. 

Binat Bibi's Mosque or the Mosque of Bakht Binat at Narinda was established around 1456 CE, during the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah.

Generally speaking, the magnificent facade and the rather generous surroundings of a Mughal mosque are in sharp contrast with its small interior.