Hasan Meer

Did you know in the early days of the postal system, a “dak harkara” (runner/postman) -- attired in bright uniform with badges, satchel full of mail on his back, armed with a spear for self-defense, a lantern in hand to show the path and jingling bells or bugle to announce his arrival ahead of time -- was the protagonist in mail delivery?

Imagine a place in the middle of hustle and bustle of Old Dhaka, where one can relax with family or friends, or even walk around a lush green courtyard.

Every day at the break of dawn, Yakub Ali heads out to his bakery at Nazira Bazar.

Imagine a family going home for the holidays. The jovial trio -- father, mother and a five-year-old boy -- reach Sayedabad Bus Terminal on time.

It's almost midnight. Sulaiman glances at his watch and leans forward to look at the traffic on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue near Farmgate, Dhaka.

They were waiting for the sun to set.

“We will celebrate Eid next year. I promise I will get you new dresses then. I will also cook shemai (vermicelli) for you.

Once Dhaka was adorned with several hundred ponds. Like canals, only a handful exist now. But they are also in death throes due to negligence of the authorities concerned. Although, according to the Field, Open Space, Park and Natural Water Body Protection Act 2000, filling up of any water body including pond is illegal, it's going on unabated.

The man sits on a rickshaw-van with small plastic containers full of some kind of seeds in front of him.

There I was, on a rickshaw, trying to figure out life, the universe and all, at Panthapath, while sipping from a bottle of cola.

Confusion, denial and finally, elation – these were the three stages of emotions that I experienced when my son enthusiastically informed that he wanted to go outside and play football with me.

Your dream should not be only about getting a job, rather getting the best job in the universe! Why limit your imagination? Reach for the stars. Dream big, even if you stumble and are stuck somewhere in the middle, don't stop dreaming.