RBR

“One of the greatest things about being a vagabond is that when you do not have solid plans and are flexible like water, there is a lot of space for opportunities just knocking at your door. And now here I am in beautiful Bangladesh,” she said.

I was feeling a little down the other day and wanted to sit down somewhere quiet and serene to just switch off from the chaos and rejuvenate my mind. What my mood craved was not something Dhaka’s posh cafes would be able to offer.

Arpon Changma’s creations in his restaurant, BBQ Express, combine elements of diverse culinary traditions that originated from different regions and cultures of Bangladesh. With utmost finesse, they craft and promote a “Texas-inspired, Chittagong Hill Tracts influenced” barbecue joint.

The following three recipes all use cheat codes in their execution without taking away the authentic flavour of the original dishes. Try them for your puja luncheon or on any other occasion.

The season of Durga Puja is upon us. Within weeks, the Hindu community of Bangladesh will be celebrating their biggest religious festival. For me, white kans grass or kashful ushers the homecoming of Goddess Durga and her colourful entourage.

A knock on our door and I remember taking out a soiled Tk 1 note from my father’s wallet and running to greet him. One piece of egg was sold at 0.25 paisas at that time, as opposed to today when the price of an egg is Tk 13.30.

An airport is like a mirror of a nation, where the image it reflects says a lot about the country to the citizens of the world. After being harassed and traumatised by the snail-paced efficiency of the second terminal, our new third terminal at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is a facelift we badly needed.

Ikebana started its journey in 1992 and the boutique has evolved through the years -- from a small shop in Dhanmondi to doing prestigious government events, award-winning landscaping projects, and the recently opened plant sales centre, where taking in the green experience is of paramount interest rather than purchases.

Nizamuddin, the old man, is 81 years old. He calls the toy “feska pakhi” in his colloquial tongue.

The wholesale spice market of Chawkbazar is not a fancy, spice souk you see in the Middle East; it is a messy place, with extremely narrow, mucky lanes snaking through filth. Even manoeuvring a rickshaw is a challenge on these roads which are further piled up with sacks of assorted spices, herbs used in Ayurveda and Unani, and of course dry fruits from all over the world.

Not all of us are cricket gurus or analysts. Some watch the game purely for entertainment. And the Bangladesh national cricket team brings a stroke of joy into our otherwise mundane lives. However, this iota of joy comes at the cost of our frazzled nerves.

Bamunshur is a sleepy hamlet tucked inside the belly of the bustling Keraniganj. While many may hardly visit this part of the city outskirts, they might, however, cross this odd place while driving towards the Bosila river point from the popular Ati bazaar at the Keraniganj end.

Eating out in the late 70s usually meant going to Chinese restaurants, typically run by Chinese couples.

The song “Top of the World” by The Carpenters was the only way for me to describe my euphoria upon reaching my work place in Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue at Farmgate in just under 35 minutes.

A quarter of a boiled egg stuffed inside a tiny handful of spicy potato mash – this deep-fried breaded croquette is just Tk 10. You could easily gobble up at least six of these egg chops, as the soft yolk gets addictive with that hint of burnt dry chilli.

My friend once wished to replicate a green business concept she had encountered on a visit to Europe.

Our loved ones, either in their final days or suffering from incurable diseases like cancer, kidney or liver failure, dementia, stroke, and other terminal ones, need hospice and palliative care.

Buying a trendy Zara shirt for just Tk 300 is only possible in Dhaka. Of course, one must take into consideration that the sleeves might be a little off or a stitch out of place.

There has always been a debate over which one -- shingara or samosa -- is the quintessential Bengali snack, but never has there been an identity crisis regarding the two. 

“Is Dhaka a city only for young people?” I was pondering for a while, and by people, I do not mean individuals only but also couples in their semi-retired or retired lives.