Dhaka Things to Do

The rickshaws are everywhere in Dhaka. I bet there are more rickshaw drivers than any other type of occupation in the city.

The proud drivers decorate the back panel and some fantastic designs can be seen. I expect there is an annual contest for the most attractive rickshaw. There would certainly be amazing competition.

I saw Rickshaws with 3 people on the back seat; rickshaws loaded up with large tins of paint and very occasionally people who didn't appear to be of Bangladeshi origin. I used the rickshaw when I'd been out exploring the city by night but had become slightly lost. I think the driver couldn't believe his luck when I gave him a 100 Taka note - about £1 for a ride of about 5 minutes. It was the smallest amount I had.

Do not expect your rickshaw driver to speak much English - they will probably have a basic minimum of greetings but are unlikely to be able to engage in lengthy conversation - unless it's in Bangla.

During the early morning and around dusk you will find many people out for their power walks round the small lake. In places groups of 15 - 20 men will be working out in group exercises lead by a trainer. Joggers do the circuit around the park once or twice.

Gulshan is the upmarket area of Dhaka where there are many of the embassies and consulates. Consequently the folk working out tend to be fairly cosmopolitan but the place still has a Bangladeshi feel to it with rickshaws parked outside the park gates and street traders on the boundary.

Entry is free and there are one or two guards to be seen - not that it is in any way a dangerous place. In fact during the afternoon the guards seemed to be pre-occupied in blowing their whistles at courting couples who may be spotted getting a bit too friendly in holding hands or other shows of affection.

In December I noticed the fruit bats coming in to roost at dusk in the tree top near to the bridge. They're noisy, argumentative creatures but impressively chubby and with surprisingly big wingspans.

This was the residence of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Situated at Dhanmondi Residential Area, it has been turned into a musuem. It houses a rare collection of personal effects and photographs of his lifetime.

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The National Martyrs' Monument at Savar, near Dhaka (35, km. from Dhaka city) is a vey beautiful sight. It takes about an hour fom the Dhaka city. This memorial designed by architect Moinul Hossein, is dedicated to the sacred memory of the millions of unknown martyrs of the 1971 war of liberation.

Lalbagh Fort was built in 1678 A.D. by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. The fort has witnessed a bloody battle during the first war of independence (1857) in India when some sepoys here backed by the people revolted against British forces. Bangladesh was then a part of India. In this Fort one finds the tomb of Pari Bibi (Fairy lady), Lalbagh Mosque, Audience Hall.

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Ever know which is the rickshaw capital of the world? Yes, its Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Despite the sophistication, highly developed infrastructure and despite being reckoned as one of the fastest growing cities in the world, more than 4,00,000 rickshaws brightly-painted and decorated run in its streets adding to the traffic jam. Only a fraction of these rickshaws are registered with the local authorities.

The Central Shahid Minar in Dhaka is a monument in honour of the language martyrs of 1952. On February 21, 1952, many students and political activists were killed as Pakistani police force opened fire on some protesters who were demanding equal status to their mothe tongue, Bengali. The place was near Dhaka Medical College and Ramna Park in Dhaka. The minar has five pillas made of pure marble stone upon a 14 feet high stage. The bounday on both sides contains lines from poems of famous poets engaved in iron letters.

Symbol of Bengali nationalism. This monument was built to commemorate the martyrs of the historic Language movement of 1952(only and one language movement in the world's history so far). Hundreds and thousands of people with floral wreaths and bouquet gather on 21 February every year to pay respect in a solemn atmosphere. Celebrations begin at zero hour of midnight.

As recognisation of the language movement UN declear 21 February as International mother language day in 1999, which ovsreve all over the world every year on 21 February.