Dhaka
EPISODE 1
By: Shariq Ali
ValueVarsity
A Glimpse of the City of Dhaka in 2011 During the Cricket World Cup Jointly Hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh
The plane was now circling over the densely populated areas of Dhaka, gradually losing altitude as it slowly approached the runway of Shahjalal International Airport. I glanced out of the window, and a flood of mixed memories from the past and present washed over my mind and heart as I took in the view of this simultaneously familiar and foreign city. Leaving behind countless residential and commercial buildings, our plane flew over the green suburbs of the airport before softly landing on the runway at Shahjalal Airport.
We disembarked from the plane, descended the stairs, and boarded a waiting bus that took us to the main International Arrivals hall. It was dusk, and the call to prayer for Maghrib echoed clearly from every corner of the lounge. This was my third visit to Bangladesh since 2007. That year, the Cricket World Cup was being jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Compared to my previous visits, the renovation of the airport and the decorations welcoming the World Cup were much more prominent this time.
The embellishments were quite pleasing, giving the impression that the airport had been fully restored. Ruth, with her natural sense of responsibility, was also back to her composed self. Holding all three of our passports, she joined the international group queue, where we were the only ones. A bearded, middle-aged, uniformed immigration officer greeted Ruth with a smile, while looking at both of us standing behind her with a serious expression. He asked Ruth a few harmless, friendly questions, and thus the visa-on-arrival process was smoothly completed.
After collecting our luggage and passing through the customs green channel, we exited to find a large crowd of people waiting to receive the arriving passengers. It wasn’t difficult for us to spot the host manager and driver from the Acid Survivors Foundation, holding a large placard. We loaded our luggage into the back of a spacious seven-seater vehicle and set off towards the Gulshan area of Dhaka city from the main airport road.
Even though office hours were over, there was still considerable traffic on the main city roads. This was not only due to the city’s population of 17 million but also because of the chaotic traffic. Bicycle rickshaws and handcarts loaded with goods made it difficult for the fast-moving traffic to advance. Motorcycles surged from every direction, and the blaring horns were so loud that it was hard to hear anything else. The banners and hoardings along the roadsides reflected the immense passion the Bangladeshi people have for cricket.
At times, the traffic brought our van to a complete halt in the middle of busy markets. Glancing around, we would invariably spot a tea stall somewhere nearby. From past experience, I knew that most people here prefer tea with less milk and more sugar. Passing through densely packed neighborhoods, we frequently saw the domes and minarets of mosques. One noticeable difference from Karachi was the presence of bicycle rickshaws and the shop signs written in Bengali rather than Urdu.
After about a half-hour drive, we arrived at the Golden Deer Hotel. This is the same hotel where we always stay whenever we visit Dhaka. It is a three-star hotel, comfortable and equipped with adequate facilities. It is situated beside a dead lake, possibly called Banani Lake. The slums located on the opposite shore of the lake do not present a picturesque view but rather a sorrowful one. Signs of poverty like these are frequently seen in Bangladesh.
…To be continued.