Memories from the shady lane
Sharing the same plate of luchi at Ghatpar with all my friends was perhaps for sustenance, but it also made me realise how little things can bring us joy
The streets of Dhaka were very unfamiliar to me when I waved goodbye to my family. They were heading back to our hometown, leaving me behind for university at Bashundhara R/A. The thought of being alone in the bustling city was overwhelming, but I knew I had to make the best of it.
As I settled into my new room, my flatmate approached me to go for cha at a place called Ghatpar. I wasn't particularly a fan of cha, but the idea of making new friends was enticing for a fresher, so I agreed. But as we arrived at Ghatpar, I was hit with a disturbing wave of noise and chaos. Students smoking in every corner, people pushing past each other in the crowded streets, and muddy, broken roads greeted us. I immediately felt immense regret and vowed never to return.
Little did I know that a couple of years down the line, I would grow to love this shady place as my very own. Because there was magic amidst the bustling, chaotic energy. Maybe being around people that I had grown to love helped me find the spark that I so failed to discover during our first encounter.
When I looked at Ghatpar more carefully, I started to appreciate that it was not merely a cluster of shabby food vendors and cramped stores. It is where people come together to share their experiences and make friendships of a lifetime. Despite the chaos and noise, there is a sense of warmth and togetherness that is infused within the area.
Many come to Ghatpar in search of affordable food, especially NSU, IUB, and AIUB students. You can quickly grab a couple of shingaras or have a hearty plate of khichuri for lunch. There is an array of cheap-but-tasty food options to choose from. But there was something more. Sharing the same plate of luchi at the tiny shop, at the end of one of the last lanes, with all my friends, was perhaps for sustenance, but it also made me realise how little things can bring us joy.
Whether it's a group gathered around a guy playing guitar and singing, the sound of my friends loudly playing our 3-6-9 game, or the loud cheers surrounding the big TV showing a football match during World Cup season, there is always something happening in Ghatpar.
In between classes or during breaks, the narrow lanes of Ghatpar are an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Unlike the crowded common spaces on university campuses, there always seems to be a spot to sit and relax at Ghatpar. And despite lacking the glamour of the city's more upscale hang-out spots, Ghatpar holds a charm of its own. You can truly let your guard down and be yourself, creating memories to treasure for a lifetime.
Unlike the crowded common spaces on university campuses, there always seems to be a spot to sit and relax at Ghatpar.
Take a look at Ghatpar, and in every nook and cranny, you can see friendships and new love brew over cups of tea and puffs of cigarettes. As each cup of tea gets empty, the hearts of the people sitting around them fill up with warmth and connection. The air is filled with playful banter between friends, the touch of hands between couples, and the subtle signals of attraction exchanged between potential lovers.
In a way, Ghatpar is a metaphor for life itself. It may not always be pretty or perfect, but it's full of surprises and hidden treasures. Sometimes, it's the places that we least expect that end up touching our hearts and changing us in profound ways.
So if you ever find yourself in Bashundhara, take a stroll down Ghatpar. Indulge in some piping hot dim chop, sit down with some new friends, and let yourself be swept up in the vibrant energy of the place. Maybe it will remind you of our youth and the place where you made your friendships.
It has been a while since I graduated and had my last plate of momo at Ghatpar with my friends. Will we ever return there and banter over food and games? Maybe not. But even then, the narrow lanes of this special place will remain alive in our photos, our memories, and our hearts, as sentimental as that sounds. As time goes on, many more will come to this bustling place and create their own meaningful relationships and memories. They too will discover the magic that lies within the shady lanes, something that will stay with them long after their youth has passed.
Dhaka’s Gen Zs may not have their own ‘Coffee House er shei adda,’ but they have their Ghatpar er Adda, and it was nothing short of magic in the form of laughter and warmth.
Dhaka’s Gen Zs may not have their own ‘Coffee House er shei adda,’ but they have their Ghatpar er Adda, and it was nothing short of magic in the form of laughter and warmth.