Photo by b.katz
Dhaka is not an obvious tourist destination, so if you are there for either work or pleasure, you are already an embryonic Insider - by definition!
Located in the centre of the country, in the great delta where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers meet, Dhaka is hot and humid in summer, due to being in the monsoon zone, but in the period October to April, can be surprisingly pleasant in climate.
Dhaka has a long history. It was founded in the 10th century, and served as the Moghal capital of Bengal from 1608-1704, and acted as a trading hub for British, French and Dutch interests before British colonial rule began in 1765.
After the partition of the Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh was briefly part of Pakistan (known as “East Pakistan”), with Dhaka as the capital, until it gained independence as Bangladesh in 1971.
Famous for textile production (jute, muslin, cotton) and rice, manufacturing has also become a feature of this vibrant Muslim city. Like many old cities of the Subcontinent, it is divided into “old” and “new” halves, with the majority of upmarket residential areas such as Gulshan and Bonanni, being in the new part.
Typical streetscene in Dhaka by Bonobo2005
Dhaka (as well as Bangladesh as a whole, and Bengal, in India) have a strong, continuing traditional musical and artistic culture, a vibrant cultural life, and the atmosphere of the city during the lighter monsoons, evokes nostalgia among lovers of classical Subcontinental singing and music, in particular.
Just don’t be put off by seemingly never-ending series of hartals (strikes) which make the already-clogged traffic grind to a complete halt. You are in a politicised country, so simply stay at home, and emerge another day.
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