Old Dhaka
Dholaikhal: The scrapyard that keeps Bangladesh moving
Go to Dholaikhal and see if you can find it there: this is the cruel joke your friends might have hurled at you once you lost your car
21 November 2025, 18:00 PM
Miniature Dhaka: Inside ‘City of Memories’ by Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed
In the quiet corners of Alliance Française, a small cluster of canvases invites viewers into a Dhaka that no longer exists — or perhaps one that exists only in memory. In “City of Memories”, Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed turns the familiar chaos of our own Old Dhaka into intimate, abstract landscapes, painted to recall the magic of the city.
20 November 2025, 10:30 AM
When waterlogging becomes a daily ordeal
Mazed Sardar Road in Old Dhaka remains submerged under dirty water almost throughout the year..Over a thousand people live in the area. Locals said the condition of the road is so poor that vehicles must move extremely carefully to avoid accidents..“One of my hands was broken last Sa
31 October 2025, 20:09 PM
Lunch, art and legacy at Beauty Boarding
I have never been to the legendary Beauty Boarding in Shiris Das Lane, Bangla Bazar. I know, it is an unpardonable offense, and I should probably be denied my self-proclaimed title as a Dhaka-know-all.
8 August 2025, 18:43 PM
Bazaira Vasha: Dhakaiya Sobbasi and their language
When Subahdar of Bengal, Islam Khan Chishti, entered Dhaka in 1608 or 1610, he was accompanied by a diverse group of North and North-West Indians, Afghans, Iranians, Arabs, and other foreign Muslims and Hindus.
30 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Old Dhaka Weddings: Of flavours and traditions
In Old Dhaka, kachchi biriyani has emerged as the quintessential wedding dish
29 April 2025, 09:15 AM
Shakrain: Kites and tastes of Old Dhaka
Shakrain is now observed by the entire community of Old Dhaka
28 April 2025, 08:23 AM
30 injured as students run riot at govt college
Violence engulfed parts of Old Dhaka yesterday as students from over a dozen colleges attacked Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College in what they said was a retaliatory move.
24 November 2024, 18:00 PM
5 reasons Old Dhaka will ruin your love for the rest of the city
Whether you’re a curious traveller or a local looking to rediscover your roots, certain experiences in Old Dhaka simply can’t be missed. So, here are 5 quintessential Old Dhaka experiences that will make you fall in love with this part of the city all over again.
16 October 2024, 11:08 AM
Shankhari Bazar: The street that transforms for Durga Puja
Shankhari Bazar in Dhaka transforms during Durga Puja with vibrant decorations, music, and rituals. This narrow street, famous for its conch shell bangles, becomes a lively hub of cultural celebration, culminating in the ethereal Sindur Khela on Bijoya Dashami
23 September 2024, 17:15 PM
Old Dhaka’s hidden gems: Where history meets crumb mutton chops
Last Friday, I was strolling through Mohini Mohan Das Lane in the nostalgic neighbourhood of Farashganj in Old Dhaka. I love the old architecture of the area, and often go on such random excursions whenever I need to unwind.
20 September 2024, 18:37 PM
Dhaka Gate: Old monument, new life
This old image portraying Dhaka Gate has a rustic vibe — with the grass and pathway and the elephants.
25 January 2024, 11:00 AM
Gandaria: Sugarcane central of a bygone era
The hint of this past is in its very name — “gandari” means sugarcane, and it is widely believed that the etymology is based on all the sugarcane cultivation that took place there.
14 September 2023, 10:24 AM
Old Dhaka's Beauty Lassi going strong even after 100 years!
How much did our city change in the last 100 years? Definitely an astounding lot! But Beauty Lassi and Falooda has stood — nay, won — the test of time.
10 September 2023, 11:12 AM
The iconic Tara Masjid did not always have those stars!
Today, it is hard to imagine our beloved Star Mosque without its stars. And with that comes the obvious question, what was the name of this mosque before those stars were added?
27 August 2023, 07:09 AM
The archive of Dhaka beneath the city
You were chosen because of your heart. Because of the incredible love you carry, despite the cruelty of this hungry city. Because of the strength you have, forged by the trials and tribulations of Dhaka.
16 July 2023, 12:30 PM
Boats against the current: Reconciling the Dhaka of old with the new
Nadeem Zaman’s The Inheritors retells and recontextualizes one of the most famous stories there ever was—F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925).
27 April 2023, 10:01 AM
The shorbot and juice culture of old Dhaka
In a country that has a hot and sultry climate like ours and most days of the year seem like summer, we have a certain longing for everything cold and refreshing such as shorbot. Especially for people living in older parts of the city, there exists a distinct attachment to shorbot and a glass of freshly extracted juice.
13 April 2023, 12:18 PM
‘Learning from Puran Dhaka’
"Learning from Puran Dhaka: The Urbanity of Occupations along the Buriganga Riverfront", a living exhibition and open workshop, was inaugurated on Saturday at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka.
6 February 2023, 04:30 AM
Heritage no hurdle?
Authorities must save Kayettuli Manasa temple from collapse
27 January 2023, 17:44 PM