Escaping from Dhaka Metro

In Dhaka city Friday morning is totally different from other days. Roads are free. Less dust. Less moving vehicle. Few passersby. No traffic jams. No hui & cry. So, some Friday morning make me confused whether I was still dreaming or woke up!!   

In the English calendar this Friday carried the date is 27^th January 2023.

We have a plan to go outside Dhaka Metro.

Today’s heading point is Hasnabad where inside Bashundhara River View my uncle is living. Aafiq is sick. He could not go with me. Aafiq and his mother were stayed home. I along with my mother started a small journey escaping Dhaka Metro and is missing Aafiq & Tushnim (Aafiq’s mother) a lot.

Mirpur road was very much free as our driver took a speedy drive.

At the entrance way of Dhaka college there was a festive gate of Sharashati Puja. Usually, Hindu students do this ritual practice to increase their knowledge.

New market gate seemed to me really unfamiliar where no crowd was seen!

Small crowd was found at Nilkhet area.

Inside Dhaka University campus, at the entrance way of fuller road, some couples were gossiping.

But Shahid Minar area we found no program was held at this time.

Actually, it feels me so unusual if we got the picture what we regular not see!

Passing over Hanif fly over we reached nearby Buriganga river within ten minutes. It’s really amazing things for me. So far, I can remember, during my childhood, when we came from Barisal to Dhaka using the similar road of Jatrabari area, we needed hour after hour to cross this area under present Hanif fly over!

Crossing over Postagola bridge we reached the Hasnabad Area where most of the road conditions are very narrow and broken. Inside Basundhara River View, most of the connecting roads are not improved mostly not pitch casted!! Positive thing is that area not too much populated. A lot of area is still vacated for new construction. Many small jungles and green trees still ensuring pure oxygen supply to this area! Building to building distance is much long. I think people can get still a deep sound sleep at night due to extreme silence after the sun set here! Even at noon, I found the main road without any people!! I am sure fox may roar at every night there still then!!!

At afternoon when we’re returning back, it’s wondering me to see many shops under Postagola bridge at river bank side. 

This time bunch of crowds was seen on the bridge who are enjoying evening air and river holding the railing of bridge.   

On the Hanif fly over, a big orange sun was seen as setting down and the scene reminds the day has come to an end. 

Roaming Puran Dhaka || Feeling like Nawab!!!

 After having mouthwatering lunch of Puran Dhaka, I felt heavier myself than that of yesterday!!

At afternoon our last visiting spot of this romaing Puran Dhaka session is the Nawab Bari on bank of Buriganga river that was named to all as Ahsan Manzil.

Puran Dhakaiya colleague Mr. & Mrs. Khokon goodbye us showing their highest cultural gratitude at his son’s circumcision ceremony to us and another Puran Dhakaiya colleague Mr. Partha whom I call usually the live Spiderman as he has unbelievable capability to ride on any multistoried building with wonderful skill during AC service related works, welcomed us to show the way to Ahsan Manzil.

Most of the environment and style of the regular road of Puran Dhaka seems to me same. All are narrow. Beside road many hawkers were sitting to sale goods. If Partha was not with us, its impossible for me to go on right track of the road of Nawab Bari!

Partha was riding a bike before us and our car was following him. Our driver Alam was armature about the patchy road of Puran Dhaka. He was kidding, “Ore Allah! The roads seemed to me Jilapi!! I never seen such patchy road!”

After 15 minutes of running, Partha took us a renowned bakery of old Dhaka what is Anondo Bakery whose Coffee cake and Ovaltine cake are truly awesome in taste! Aafiq loved the taste of coffee cake, his mother & grandmother loved Chanachur a lot. I always prefer Ovaltine cake! We purchased huge item for home then again were on the way to the call of Nawab!   

The gap between exit and entry time of the palace of Nawab is only three hours (3 pm to 6 pm). Thanks to Partha as he arranged tickets earlier otherwise when we reached at the gate of Ahsan Manzil there was a huge crowd who were all waiting there to take entry in long lines.   

Then we entered the palace compound. Actually, Ahsan Manzil is a two storied pink colored palace where Nawabs of Dhaka passed their luxurious life the bank of the Buriganga river.

We started from ground floor and saw many used weapons, cloths, bed, chair, table, fan, books, many households and kitchenware material used by Nawab family. At first floor, Aafiq asked a question who is the found of this palace. I got the answer when we saw many paintings and pictures of Nawab family with short note. Nawab Abdul Gani was the founder of this palace.

Aafiq wondered seeing the long length of dining table of Nawab family.  

At the dance room many wall-painted images were seen. My kid asked, “Baba! Where is the picture of Rani (queen)?”

I was also astonished as there was no female picture seen round the palace!! May be all queens of Nawab were the part of harem so they might not be pictured then!!

But we got some images of dancing English woman on wall.

Photography was prohibited inside palace.  

From the veranda and high exit stairs of first floor, Buriganga was clearly visible. Unexpected smell of flowing water and sound of water vehicle reminded us that the time was almost to the sun set. After passing a wonder roaming at loving Puran Dhaka we all became very tired. Then we walked to our car to back home. I asked Aafiq, how do you feel?

He replied, Very nice. Thank you Puran Dhaka! 

Roaming Puran Dhaka || Enjoying a Dhakaiya Circumcision Ceremony

After Jummah prayer, Karimul, Ahsan, Emran, Nazim, many colleagues came meet us at a joyous environment of Puran Dhaka and showed us the way to attend premises of a Dhakaiya Circumcision Ceremony.

Actually, my colleague Mr. Khokon, the man of old Dhaka by born, invited us earlier to attend the circumcision ceremony of his seven years old boy Showath. He invited us to enjoy the culture of amusement and enjoyment of the people of old Dhaka with family.    

    Just after five minutes of journey, we reached the venue with the greatest wonder seeing the arrangement. My family was truly confused as the program is the someone’s wedding ceremony or circumcision ceremony!!!

The Dhakaiya host welcomed us warmly. Hundreds of people were arriving to attend the program as guest as like as us. Aafiq enjoyed the event of multiple photo capturing. We met many people of new and old Dhaka here with great happiness. Then the feast started and the venue was covered with the mind-blowing smell of Polaw, Roast, Beef, Firni etc.  

I joked with Khokon Bhai, “What a big arrangement! You could give marriage your son along with the same event!!!”

- “Sir, this is nothing. You missed the body turmeric program of circumcision last night where horse walk, band party, DJ, shahi food etc. many more arrangement there were!!”

Capture of last night body turmeric event that we could not attend!!!

Hearing his reply, I was speechless!!! 

[To be continued]

Roaming Puran Dhaka || Lalbagh Kella

Today I have had a wonderful roaming at Puran Dhaka (old town of Dhaka city). Usually when anybody imagines about yummy biriyani, tasty laschi, delicious Morog Polaw, he or she sees the favorable name as Puran Dhaka. Not for only mouthwatering food, but for some Mughal heritages, Puran Dhaka is famous round the country. One of them is Lalbagh Kella, an incomplete Mughal fort. This morning we have visited there to have a taste of Mughal rule in Bengal.

As Friday is weekend holiday and now winter is running, generally we leave bed at 9 to 10 AM this time. But today morning my Dhakaiya colleague Nazim called me at 9 AM and remind me, “Sir, tickets are ready. Please come fast because due to Jummah prayer after 12:30 PM, Lalbagh fort will be closed!”

-OMG! Aafiq Baba!

-Tushim!!

-Amma!!

-Let’s be ready hurry!

After about 40 minutes we reached at Lalbagh Kella, the wonder creation of Mughal prince Azam Shah. My colleague Nazim, who is originated of Puran Dhaka by born, received us very cordially at the entering gate with pre-purchase tickets.

It’s a sunny morning. The glow of cool of regular winter was decreasing as sun was shining with a wide smile. Like us hundreds of people arrived here to see the fort and enjoy a Kella built at 1678!

Aafiq was seen the tomb of Pari Bibi inside a premises. He asked who was Pari Bibi. His mother and grandmother started to tell him the story of Mughal rule. From there discussion, I have leant that who is the founder of this fort and why it was not completed. Pari Bibi was the daughter of Subahdar Shaista Khan. After her death usually the construction progress of this fort was stopped.

At this right corner of the tomb, there was an ancient mosque where every day many Muslims pray their prayers. There were many stopped old artificial fountains and water reservoirs at fort. Among them one reservoir was very big and deep as like as small lake but dry because there was no water then. Beautiful gardens of forts were full of various bloomed colorful flowers.

We have seen a red building at left side from the tomb of Pari Bibi. One of the caretakers told us that it was a place where various trails happened and it seemed to us as courtroom.

Total Kella was surrounded by a high wall. May be once thousands of Mughal guards guarded the fort!

 Actually, the ancient main gate of the fort is now closed but it looks gorgeous. Nearby it, there was a way of secret tunnel what is now closed. Once Mughal emperor might go inside it!

We sat on the bench beside the courtroom for a while and thought how strange is history is! Once this place was full of people, power and pride! Now just we got the ruins and we try to imagine the pride.

Suddenly we heard an announcement, “Time is over. Its’ 12:30 PM.”

Then we got out of the Mughal fort and sat a nearby restaurant to take taste of a Mughal drink Laschi as we were thirsty due to having a long time walk.

[To be continued] 

Chill in Coolest Breeze!

7^th January 2023.

It seemed to me the coolest day of this winter in Dhaka. We left our bed at dawn and flowing super cool breeze made us as shocked as we were statue! Wall clock already reached at 6:30 AM. OMG! We’re only 30 minutes left the bus would move!

-” Aafiq Baba! Get up!” our kid was sleeping then he might be dreaming to catch a cat or anything else. His mother also asked him, “Babuuuuu…...!”

Generally, in winter morning Aafiq never want to get up so easily but that morning hearing his mother’s voice just once, it was wondered that the kid boy woke up and shouted with joy, “Yaa! We’re going to picnic today….!”  

Yes! Today we have a get together named “Butterfly Family Time” at Zinda park.

Our riding bus started sharp time heading to 300 feet road of Basundhara. Inside bus we felt comfortable as all seats were filled up and density of cool winter was defeating against human body generated heat. 

But mighty nature showed his power when we reached at 300 feet and took a small break to wait for gathering all buses together. Riding down from bus, we felt the true feel of winter! What a cool air! Dense fog covered everywhere! Walk way to sky seemed to merged by fog! The density of fog was too high as fog light might not work properly there!!!

After 30 minutes, we reached at Zinda park where yellow green leaves were wet with winter fog and welcoming us moving to & fro by extreme cool air!! My kid wondered when he saw first time of his life the flash of Poddo Pukur, a pond where hundreds of red lotuses bloomed as they’re smiling to us! My kid and wife were enjoying a lot the natural beauty of Poddo Pukur.

We have had our breakfast with delicious Gorom Gorom Luci!

Then our “Butterfly Family Time” started through various games and get togethers. It’s a fine event where top management of Butterfly and all staffs mix together forgetting their positions and the joyous enjoyment made the day a true family day. Seeing the combined enjoyment guests were confused to identity who is owner or who is staff of company!!!  Even My kid asked me, “Hey Baba! Is the CEO sir staff???”

Plan green grassed open field, wide ponds, various trees, chirping of birds, tree houses etc. are the real sources of relaxation at Zinda park. Aafiq enjoyed running here and there. Actually, in Dhaka, he doesn’t have such wide way of running. He again wondered to see Basher Shako or Char, bamboo made foot-bridge, first time of life inside a wide lake. How people could pass it so easily!!

After delicious lunch, we felt the velocity of cool air increased. Aafiq started dancing with the rhythm of music to make himself warm! He participated a biscuit race and won reward that made his participation of this family time most joyous.

And then he said, “Thank you Butterfly!”