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.

In the late 19th century, some of the streets had oil lamps, and there was also an announcement by Ahsanullah to introduce gas lamps. 

In the bustling streets of Farmgate, pedestrians find themselves trapped in a relentless dance of dodging vehicles and the mere act of crossing a road can be a perilous adventure.

The legend of unearthing the idol is traditionally ascribed to Ballal Sen, but it is doubtful whether this story talks of the renowned 12th-century king, Ballal Sen.

Animal abuse, like all forms of abuse, cannot be tolerated. So, why do we routinely hear horror stories or watch videos of stray animals getting abused on the streets of Dhaka?

Well, it’s a little late for that of course. 

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.

Dhaka University was established in 1921, whereas the foundation of Curzon Hall was laid in 1904.

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.

Now known as Pogose Laboratory School and College, operating under Jagannath University, it was founded as far back as 1848, by Joakim Gregory Nicholas Pogose, a rich Armenian businessman. 

The restaurant industry of Dhaka can safely be regarded as the most widespread entertainment option in town. Over the past few years, various types of restaurants have mushroomed in every corner and alley of the city, from busy dim sum houses to quiet cafes.

Once upon a time, Dhaka used to put on a celebratory face every time Abahani played a game of football against Mohammedan. Those days are long gone but our love for the game remains.

Rafan Razzak was born with Down syndrome. Soon after his birth, little Rafan suffered from breathing difficulties, and later, through the karyotyping test, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

When you see a carriage today in the capital, you probably think of it as a recreational ride or a vehicle by which bridegrooms arrive at weddings.

Over the course of my career, I have spent a significant amount of time in Dhaka, Bangladesh and various other locations in the country.

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.

Bakharkhani in Dhaka mainly comes in three flavours. Perhaps, the most popular is the classic one. There is also a sweet twist to the classic bakharkhani, which is sometimes slightly harder in texture.

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.