Periscope

Old Dhaka is the life of the capital, Dhaka. It is an original region of Dhaka city. Old Dhaka is a heart of Bengali culture with a story of nearly 400 years. While the location of this city exists in a small area of the capital Dhaka, the entire region appears to contain the history of a state. The town spreads from Gandaria Faridabad to Hazaribagh Tannery Mor in east-west Dhaka and from Dhaka Sadarghat to Nawabpur in the south. The ancient Dhaka dates from about 700 AD and was founded in 1608 AD.This traditional city expanded after 1910 AD. The old Dhaka tradition has more success.Once a well-planned, beautiful and picturesque region, it has lost its heritage over the years. Although the city is trying to catch up with this lost evolution to maintain its own prosperity, it seems highly inappropriate and unforeseen given time. This traditional town of Dhaka was built between 700 and 1200 A.D., along the banks of the Buriganga River. Dhaka South City Corporation includes eight metropolitan police stations throughout the city. Old Dhaka is mainly known as a business area. It is not really known but a business area. However, as the center of Bengali culture, this old Dhaka comes first. But the culture of old Dhaka is no more. A lot of modernity and cultural aversion and a lot of mismanagement are sitting on the neck of this culture. But the burden of mismanagement seems to be much more than everything. Unscheduled management, watering, traffic jams, unhealthy surroundings, everything seems to hold this old Dhaka. Traffic jam and uncontrolled vehicles are making people’s transportation system difficult, creating various types of suffering. There are several educational institutions in this city. And for the students of this educational institution, this vehicle system is also a cause of fear. Old Dhaka has several educational institutions. Let’s take as an example, Jagannath University, the traditional educational institution of old Dhaka. Thousands of students visit this educational institution of old Dhaka every day. A real example of an unplanned management can be seen just by looking outside the university campus. And in that situation, no matter what the environment looks like, it will not look like an educational institution friendly environment. Recently, a vehicle rider died in an accident in front of the main gate of Jagannath University. And these incidents seem to increase the fear of students. Carelessness of vehicle drivers, unawareness or uncontrolled speed and reckless driving are the main causes of these accidents. This is just the status of an educational institution. Even Bahadur Shah Park or Victoria Park, a traditional structure located in Old Dhaka, has no surveillance. All parks are occupied by food stalls. And with this, some homeless people meet more. Among these people, some street children are seen again, most of whom have immersed themselves in the world of drugs and various immoral activities in an unsanitary environment. Sometimes it is accompanied by some silent spectators from the administration. Many traditional buildings are located in Old Dhaka. Ruplal House, Lalkuthi, Ahsan Manzil, Jinjira Palace have various structures in this area. But these buildings are neglected. And there is no surveillance around them. With the evolution of time, their dignity is being lost, they are becoming perishable. This old Dhaka, which contributed to the country’s economy, is losing its glory due to neglect. Today, the touch of culture has decreased a lot in this old Dhaka, which is clinging to the mantle of culture. The old Dhaka which should have been full of luxuries, was covered with all kinds of things but today it has nothing. The old traditions of old Dhaka should be brought back again. This requires a planned management. If we lose our traditions in this way, we will become cultured. And that is not desirable for any of us. So the reins must be pulled at the beginning of everything being lost. And for this, strict supervision by the administration and authorities is much needed.

Safa Akter Nolock
Student, Department of Philosophy
Jagannath University