As a nation, we’ve always found it really easy to point fingers or find flaws with the government or the country every time we run into a pile of trash on the streets. But let’s take a breather from all the hating and give the deserving people, who work relentlessly to make lives better for us here, a little break. Dhaka is not the city it used to be, here’s how:
Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
The streets are cleaner: People often complain about how they get more sunburnt here than in other countries. But that’s only because the skies are not as polluted and the sunrays penetrate deeper. Whether you’ve noticed it or not, we have been trying to cut down on the pollution (banning the burnt brick production and making installation of solar panels in homes compulsory, amongst many other steps), and we rightfully did deserve that climate change award. The highways are cleaner and greener now. Just look around when you’re travelling from Uttara to Dhanmondi and you’ll know what we’re on about.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” – John F Kennedy
The city that never sleeps: The food shops are open till 11pm. Some places have all-nighters. And you can manage to catch buses, taxis, CNGs or rickshaws from anywhere in Dhaka, even till 11:30pm. It’s safe to say that the traffic won’t die down until then.
Cuisine options: Which brings us to our next amenity - the dining options. They're endless. Craving for some good ol’ haji biryani? Head out to Puran Dhaka. Want to try Mexican, Italian, Portuguese or Hakka? El Toro, Bella Italia, Nando’s or even those street-side carts will not fail you.
Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
Abundance of food: Yes, we’ve had our share of people living in extreme poverty and there was a time when many had to starve to death. But things have changed now. Bangladesh moved up to a lower-middle income economy from a lower-income country, in just a matter of a couple of years. We have made significant improvements and there's an abundance of food for all. So much so that we are struggling to control brown-soft rot of potatoes in the country.
Friendly pedestrians: New to a certain area and feeling directionally challenged? Just ask one of the pedestrians and they will go out of their way to show you where it’s located. Disclaimer: That being said, do not follow random strangers to quiet alleys. You can never be too careful.
Fashion paradise: Is it just us, or are the streets of Dhaka filled with passers-by donning really cool attire these days? It’s almost as if there’s nothing appalling to find in the shopping markets, and we’re not being sarcastic when we say that. You’ll find fashion forward groups in ethnic fusion (Aarong, Jatra, Aranya wearables are very easy to identify). And although some of us are quite upset about the intrusion of Indian and Pakistani trends in the market, at least our people have more to choose from. And let’s be honest, they look pretty striking too. People have embraced so many different trends, be it local, regional or international, and with all the available options, everyone has started to look more well-groomed these days.
Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
Professional growth opportunities: If you’re a Bangladeshi and looking to settle elsewhere in the world, then good luck! Most developed countries will write off your previous academic qualification or job experience (that you’ve obtained from Bangladesh) as invalid and you’ll have to start from scratch all over again. That too for an entry level position and take our word for it, it will be really difficult if not impossible, to get to the top. Why will they even choose you over someone of their own? So cringe your eyebrows as much as you want, love. But the country is developing, and you being the core part of the nation, will be entitled to enjoy all the perks it has to offer.
