In Photos: A Dhaka Beyond its Elections
I can imagine a Dhaka in turmoil, but I cannot imagine a Dhaka that is unwelcoming of a visitor. Dhaka lives in my childhood through my father’s stories: Sadarghat steamers, Puran Dhaka’s food, Ramna Race Course, Dhaka University’s bloodstained history. Partition forced my family to leave, but our memory endured. Today, post-1971 and after the July 2024 upheaval, the city wrestles with identity— the slogans “Joy Bangla,” “Allah Hafiz,” and “Inquilab Zindabad” compete in public life. As elections near, Dhaka hums: rickshaws, glass towers, azaan and temple bells in unison. Graffiti, bookshops, and cafés reflect a shifting politics. Restless yet resilient, Dhaka surges toward an uncertain future.
A congregation at a mosque on a Friday.
A busy Dhaka road.
A huge steamer – a prime transport to connect the mainland and remote Bangladesh to Dhaka despite the Padma bridge plying through.
Basketball at Justice Shahbuddin Park in upmarket Gulshan.
Begam Rokeya was a poet, writer and feminist who fought for the rights of the women in Bangladesh and against the Islamist takeover of women's freedom.
Double decker bus at Mirpur 10 crossing.
Boys at the cricket city of Mirpur.
A Dhaka road.
Wall writing against police torture as two policemen walk past.
Merul Badda, a thickly populated neighbourhood where rickshaws and buses try to overtake the other
Jatrabari bus depot which connects all of Dhaka and Bangladesh
Saree and Burkha are the clothing of choice for women in Bangladesh.
Sadar Ghat in Old Dhaka.
A cat at a bookstore in Dhaka.
National Poets' Conference at Shahid Minar in Dhaka University area commemorating 1971, 2024 and the present turmoil.
A busy road in Dhaka.
The newly-built Metro line which connects the Dhaka University and the government offices and the city's main spine.
All photos are by Shome Basu.
This article went live on February eleventh, two thousand twenty six, at ten minutes past six in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
