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.

Poneer-flavoured tea? How about bits or slices of poneer in your tea? The concept may not be all that surprising for many people these days, as just a few years ago various teashops and brands tried to popularise this almost as a novelty.

The latest craze for city-dwellers is the cycle vans selling all kinds of things, from undergarments to cushion covers. I leave it up to you to broaden the spectrum of things you get in these footpath vans.

People used to gather at Ahsan Manzil, Boro Katra, Choto Katra, and Hussaini Dalan to spot the crescent moon.

Every family has a special recipe -- a cherished dish that only the mother, a specific aunt, or sister can cook to perfection.  The steaming Eid day polao garnished with almonds, pistachios, raisins, and plums may well be the grandma’s speciality, as is the Baishakhi special of the mother.

Although many of us have known or heard of Baldah Garden, how frequently have we visited this century-old botanical paradise? Perhaps, not often enough to know what a splendid recreational space this garden can be!

Dhaka loves celebrations! Any whiff of festivities and we jump right in. So, today – March 8 -- is no different.

The room was quiet and all 10 participants, aged between nine and 60, were engrossed in their work. They were each given a template and their task was to draw the design given, and later paint it. The paint brushes, the vibrant colours of neon yellow, vermillion red, emerald green, and cobalt blue along with design templates of a shapla, a bird, a tiger, and “alpona” gave the room a festive look.

I am a soup person when it comes to food. With Dhaka’s ongoing coughing feats and sneezing bouts, I needed a bowl of hot soup for my flu-ridden body and soul.

A city of surprises, Dhaka is set to bring forth something completely out of the box and truly wholesome on March 2, 2024 with the “Pampered Paws Bangladesh PAW CARNIVAL 2024”, powered by Whiskas and Pedigree.

Whenever you visit or just walk past any roadside eatery, you often see large deghs or pots covered in a red cloth. You know that those pots hold biriyani, polau, or the like but do you know why all these deghs or dekchis are always wrapped in red?

Tucked inside Baitul Aman Housing Society at Adabor is the factory outlet of “Hand Touch” -- a handicrafts venture with a focus on recycling and catering to a niche market of hand-woven textiles in Bangladesh and abroad.

On any other day, a 10-minute walk from the TSC to Bangla Academy may seem mundane.

I never knew dismantling a house, a store, a restaurant, and a bag full of memories could be an exuberant experience, until I came across a post on social media related to the beautiful crafts store, Jatra, in Banani

History, however, is hard to erase. The name itself, historians have argued, is reminiscent of olden times. Many believe Dhanmondi may have a paddy connection — "dhan".

A popular figure in Dhaka’s art circuits, Nazir Hossain, better known as Tiger Nazir, is a self-taught scroll painter or “potua”. Seen at almost all fairs and folk exhibitions in the city, he flaunts a patriotic, green-and-red bandana with brushes stuck in his unkempt hair.