Dhaka: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

When I first came to Dhaka in 1951as a school kid, there was no such thing as cakes, pastries, or chanachur of Calcutta variety. In the mid-fifties the Aga Khani community first introduced chanachur, then came cakes and pastries from Shahbagh Hotel bakery followed by Kash bakery at the then Jinnah Avenue. If I am correct, nan roti was first introduced to Dhakaites in the mid-fifties by Dhaka Hotel opposite Dhaka Court in old town. Now you get nan roti in almost all towns in Bangladesh.

Biharis introduced Kacchi Biriani around this time. In 1960 a Chinese (Cafe China) introduced Chinese cuisine to Dhakaites that soon became the favourite dish of Bengalees. Chicken tikka and boti kebab were introduced in the mid-sixties by a small shop known as Fancy Kebab House at the swimming pool area of Bangabandhu Stadium, later followed by Darul Kebab House. From the early-eighties we saw new varieties of international cuisines finding their way into our plates. Dhaka can now boast of varieties of international cuisines starting from Mughlai food to Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian foods.

Fast foods like hamburger, pizza, fried chicken have also invaded our eating habits. By the way, fuchka and chatpati were first introduced in 1953 by a Punjabi whose stall was outside the old railway station and he was murdered later on.

For those who have been in Dhaka since the early-fifties it is unbelievable to see cosmopolitan cuisines overtaking the traditional ones. At least in this sector Dhaka can be admired.