Dhaka, Bangladesh.

 This is a semi-commercial/mixed commercial area in Kakrail, Dhaka, Bangladesh. I think the picture is about 15 years old. I took it from a hospital room. It was a difficult night to sleep, so I was looking outside and watching this scene.

Enjoying food at a restaurant.

 Enjoying food at a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Biography 179: Professor Ziaus Shams

Today, I would like to share my experiences with Professor Ziaus Shams from the Geography & Environment department at the University of Dhaka. I first met him during my interview when I expressed my interest in joining the Geography Department. He seemed proud and encouraged me, although I had no idea who he was at the time since I was surrounded by department heads. 

During another admission session at the department building, we had to go inside a room one by one to complete some admission work. Some students became impatient and pushed each other, causing the door handle to break. Professor Ziaus Shams came out and shouted to stop the behaviour, which scared us. 

In class, Professor Shams voiced his dissatisfaction with the old and broken facilities at the university and made efforts to upgrade them. He even changed the main gate and established an air-conditioned lab for GIS and Climate Geography. 

During one class, three of us (girls) wore red sarees and always tried to sit in the front row so the professor would notice our dresses. To our surprise, the next day he wore a red t-shirt. 

In conclusion, every person has something good in them, and we should focus on their positive qualities rather than their shortcomings, especially when they are no longer with us.

Biography 161: How the department name became "Geography & Environment"

 Our department's name was Geography when I first applied. But during that time, they were working to change the name. Our department's proposal was to make this department name "Geography & Environmental Science." But the Science faculties put an objection to it. They said if you want to make it Environmental Science, you must make a good lab. At that moment Geography department didn't have a lab for the environment. To have the sanction for it, they needed to change the name. They compromised and called the department "Geography & Environment." So, I get admitted to this program at the University of Dhaka. 

Later our department made a science lab for Environment. An environmental science teacher had been appointed. He was young and handsome. Many of our classmates liked him. No, I never felt like that with him. I even don't have any memory of him having any conversation. The only thing I remember is he was walking (very fast) on the verandah of our department in a red shirt. I remember this because someone (I better not mention any name) told us, a handsome man is walking with his full sexy vibe. So, I looked at the verandah. 

After many years, I heard he got married. Had a kid. But the child was born abnormal. After hearing this, he got his heart failed, and he died. Innalillahi Wa Inna Elaihi Rajeun.

I never ask how that lab is going. Why is our department still not Environmental Science?

Biography 159: Perception of University life in Bangladesh.

 When I was in school (In Bangladesh, grades 1 to 12). One of our entertainment was watching TV dramas. Almost all TV dramas, whenever showing University life, it showed that girls and boys having affairs. They don't attend classes or study; they do romance. If they somehow go to the library, they do romance. Their only activity at the University is to sit together on campus in different places. Then the hero or the heroine becomes 1st class 1st.

Now a day, I think that was the life of those writers; they don't know the other sides of campus life.

Sometimes, my mom took us to New Market to make dresses and shop. Sometimes rickshawala (Rickshaw driver) uses to take us through the University campus. I have seen many times boys and girls sitting together very closely.

Here, I must inform you that in Bangladesh, generally, people don't show intimacy in public. In those days, unmarried boys and girls didn't show any kind of bonding in public.

I heard people used to say city girls are not good. They spend time with boys before marriage. Village girls are very innocent. They are the marriage materials.

After admitting to the university I have seen city girls go home after class. The hall girls, who came from the village, stay out at night. Because they don't have anyone in the room who will ask where you have been. I mean, no parental restriction. No one knows them over there. I am telling what is good or bad; just trying to bring facts I have experienced. You know, exceptions can't be examples.

Let's come back to my childhood. So, I had a very negative idea about University life. That's why I thought I would go there to take the higher study and I won't go to make any kind of intimacy with boys. And I followed that till the end of my university life. My friends were 2 girls, and I had no affair with any boy. However, I spend my best study time at the University, not primary school.

Biography 158: Walking from one building to another

 At the University of Dhaka, all buildings are far apart. Thanks to Allah, rickshaws are available inside the University area. Actually, some main roads go through the university. I guess only heavy vehicles are not allowed to run in between the university area, except university buses.

The admission process happens in June. That is one of the warmest weather in Bangladesh. It isn't a joke at noon when it is about 40c temp if you have to walk from one building to another, which is 5 to 20 minutes away. But again, it's an old University. There are some very big and wide trees available on the university campus. So, shades are there. Again many small mobile stalls are also available with different kinds of foods, mainly fruits, juice, nuts, tea, and ice cream, throughout the campus. So, these elements help to reduce walking pain. Again university students mean very young people. Who are healthy and strong enough to walk. Many students don't have enough money to take rickshaws or buy food. They just keep walking to save money.

Students can take university buses to move from one place to another. But busses have fixed time, and they are in less amount than the student's number. Sometimes, students can't get on a bus because it is overcrowded. For this reason, sometimes accidents happen. I knew some bus helpers died, falling from the running bus because he was hanging from the bus door handle. In Bangladesh, all buses have a driver and a helper. The driver drives the bus, and the helper stands at the door and does other jobs. Like, as selling tickers, collecting money, giving instructions to the bus driver about his blind spot and road condition, screaming to the bus riders about which stoppage it came from, and shouting to the crowd which place the bus is going to invite them to ride on the bus, buy foods and other staff for the driver, etc.

Biography 60: New apartment in Bangladesh

 After a couple of years living in Saudi Arabia, our parents decided to come back to Bangladesh permanently. Now I think, that wasn't a wise decision. They could have a much better career and good life.

While we were in Saudi, my dad took help from his friend. Through his friend, he bought land in Dhaka to settle. We never heard of that place before, but it was near Matijhil Commercial Area.

First, we rented an apartment to live near our land. So, that our parents can look after the construction work of our new home. The apartment was in 4 storied building and we started living at level 3. My Bangladeshi life started from this home.

Our landlord was a lawyer. In that area, everyone uses to say, lawyer's house. Just beside our house, a very popular movie comedian lived. He was the brother of our landlord. Later the movie star's family became our family friends. They were such a nice family.

This house was near to a school. I am and my older sister studied in that school till grade 4. Still, I have friends connected on FB from this school.

I remember one day I broke the sink in the dining room. It was a small sink to wash hands. I was very scared. Because I put my leg on it to wash and then... you know. But the landlord smiled at me and said it's OK. The next day he put a new one.

In those days, in Dhaka city, we didn't have many high-storied buildings. So, we could view "Baitul Mokarram" from the roof of our apartment. And also the Kamalapur Railway station. Hearing the rail's noise was very common.

Around us, we had big trees. Most of them are from our neighbours. But it made the apartment look very beautiful. Now all trees are gone and there is no free space around that building. All space is captured by the high-rise apartments. It's a requirement of a Megacity. Can't deny it.

You are using clean road because someone else didn’t make it dirt

photo credit: Shafeen

Most of the inhabitants of this mega city Dhaka are from outside of Dhaka. And among them, most of them are from very rural area. Where they didn't have to face any city problem and didn't have to maintain city life. I mean there are some extra cares you need to take in your work in city life. These people came in the city, then rent or buy flat and start their city life…

In Dhaka there are many roads which are very narrow that only 1 or 2 car can pass carefully. For nearby work place you may like to walk on those roads. And while walking you will face, someone may dropped house hold dirt or kitchen dirt on the road, they might became rotted. You have to always careful with every footstep, and also which are coming from upwards. Suddenly you might find someone threw egg shells or chicken bone on your head. What it is? You are not in rural area anymore that you can throw anything anywhere. You have to use dustbin for dirt. Windows are not for throwing dirt.

They might think, they don’t use that road or road cleaner will clean the road once, so they can do this kind of attitude regularly. Listen carefully. When you use a clean road, you feel good. And remember, it was clean because I didn’t throw any dirt over there. Be clean, not inside your home. Also the road you or others use. 

Mega City should get ready for coming flood

Now in our area (Dhaka, Bangladesh) I can see the water level (in drain) is road level. Whenever rain comes (big or small) water comes to the road (I hope you understand these are not clean water) and doesn't move easily. It’s happening every day. I really don’t know what will happen when the flood water comes and flow across this area. You know, already the northern portion of our country facing flood.

We have adjusted our life with traffic condition

When a visitor (may be from outside of Dhaka city or foreign) came in this city (Dhaka) the first thing they had to face is the traffic jam. Kids cry, they can’t sit in one place and wait hours. Adults have no choice but wait. Now a day whenever we plan to go to any place the first thing we can think about is the traffic condition. In which way we should go, when, which date, try to complete all work within walking distance, etc. Everything has its own effect on our daily life. Traffic condition also has some. Good thing is our patient level getting high and higher every day by keep waiting on roads.

Need to do something with the roof

Shafeen in side an auto rickshaw

If you are living in Bangladesh, then you must have ride on a CNG auto rickshaw. And you must have noticed that in a hot summer the plastic roof isn’t enough to cover the sun hit. And the road of Dhaka city is fully mess up with traffic jam. In a hot day sitting inside the auto rickshaw in traffic jam, you can’t imagine how hard it could be. It’s like sitting inside an oven. Children can become sick with this situation.

Some CNG drivers add packing boards bellow the plastic roof. It helps to prevent the hit. I think all CNG auto rickshaw should do something to prevent the hit.

Everyone is buying flats in Dhaka city

When we see everyone is buying flat in Dhaka city and ensuring a home in this mega city, we can assume people has lots of money. And we start thinking it’s very easy to buy a flat. Just give money and get the flat. Well, in the advertisement, developing companies also says so, but actually it’s not.

Thousands of problems people faces when they buy a flat. Sometimes they pay and then flat builds. There is no time limit to build a house. Some flat developing works goes on and on. And never finishes.

In some case you a brought flat then found their papers are not OK or not ready to sale.

Sometimes you find that the condition of the flat isn’t good, again you have to invest money on color, floor, bathroom fittings, kitchen fittings etc.

Finally the price, it grows on and on, very difficult to win the race with it. If you are thinking you will save money and buy a flat… then it’s really very difficult.

Moon, from my veranda

Now a day in Dhaka everywhere high storage buildings are rising. It’s very difficult to view the sky from home. But still somehow the moon manage to show itself from my veranda.