Ever wonder how the name Tikatuli came about?

Tikatuli – have you ever stopped to ponder how this curious name came to be? Probably not, because the locality is all too familiar to even pause and think about.

But that’s exactly what this series intends to do! Welcome to “Naamer Araley Dhaka,” a project where each episode will explore the origin of a neighbourhood or street name in the capital.

For this first episode, our focus is on Tikatuli.

Once to upon a time, to meet the demand of hookah-manufacturing, there was a group of artisans who used to make “tikiya” (ember or charcoal tablets). And the place of these tikiya-makers eventually came to be known as Tikatuli!

These craftspeople took their artistry to a rather high level. The products were so light and exquisite that you could light up multiple embers with just one matchstick.

A curious detail regarding all this involves one tikiya-maker. He was mockingly nicknamed “Maharani ka Beta,” meaning Queen Victoria’s son!

Of course, Tikatuli is not the only area in Dhaka that gets its name from a trade or profession. What other names spring to mind?

Keep your eyes on The Daily Star’s Facebook page, and our website, for upcoming episodes!

Source: Kingbodontir Dhaka by Nazir Hossain