RBR

Dhaka still surprises me; can you believe that? Born and brought up in this city, I think I am a true ambassador of the town -- a little eccentric, a tad bit politically volatile, and very angry for no good reason.

The backstreets of Baridhara Diplomatic Zone and Baridhara DOHS, known as Kalachandpur, are an energetic and vibrant neighbourhood that unfortunately suffers from an identity crisis.

Costume jewellery blends heritage and modern flair, elevating style with ethnic, tribal, or minimalist pieces. Affordable yet expressive, it reflects individuality, tradition, and evolving trends — perfect for fashion-forward women embracing both vintage and contemporary jewellery aesthetics.

Living in this beautiful suburb in the northern part of Dhaka has both pros and cons

Dhaka doesn’t have a city square per se, but places like Shahbagh and areas around Motijheel serve as a sort of one.

Once upon a time in Dhaka, telephone operators and postmen were the most revered service providers, especially for a young adult in love or an elderly parent residing in any mufassil town.

Essentially a research-based, artist-run, non-profit organisation, Brihatta Art Foundation has worked in Dhaka for quite some time. With an objective to integrate locals in community development, they have given the people of Hazaribagh greater accessibility to art and culture.

I went to the Lalbagh area last Saturday to finalise an interesting project for My Dhaka readers (stay tuned), but this business meet-and-greet was unlike any I had ever attended or conducted.

An artistic mind finds inspiration even in the mundane details of life. It makes the ordinary extraordinary. The smell of frying omelettes, the stirring sound of the spoon in a teacup, the sight of a mother oiling her daughter’s hair, or an old man reading a newspaper -- any of these can spark a fancy in their mind.

This year’s Pahela Baishakh celebrations will be lacklustre, as many pundits suggest.

Experiencing a “kalbaishakhi jhor” inside the mangrove forest of Sundarbans can be both a spine-chilling experience or a romantic one.

As Ramadan concluded at the end of last month, beckoning the arrival of Eid festivities, there was a lot of buzz on social media regarding “Eid gifts”.

The last two days before the grand Eid day are packed with frenzied fuss about anything and everything.

Tailors typically enjoy star status at this time of the year. Besides your regular tailor, who takes your bespoke orders for dresses; there are tailors for upholstery work, who are no less busy and sought after now.

Subbasi is a Bengali-influenced dialect that is now spoken by original residents of Dhakaiya community

What is hardship food? I had no idea. The thought of what people eat during natural calamities, war, displacement and such, never came to my mind. It is something we do not think about unless we start to live in destitution.

Tracing the roots of Old Dhaka's unique dialect

Food prepared on the streets is nothing new in Dhaka. Darul Kabab of yester-Dhaka saw various kebabs on skewers, or seekh as it is called in Bangla, being grilled over an open fire or coal embers.

Shojon, a Bangla word, when roughly translated means a dear one, or maybe a near one. With the promise to hold your hands in your darkest times -- like a loved one, SHOJON is a mental health service, an initiative of the SAJIDA Foundation.

As I seated myself in the Halda Valley Tea Lounge, seeing the way the welcome drinks were served left me in awe.