Dhaka is not beautiful but unique city: A foreigner's view

[Michael Corleone]

man those tricycle human rickshaws, imagine if people(in Pakistan) had to do that just to survive....

Had seen alot of them in Indian/Bangla videos... And please not bs comment that this is to curb pollution, like they care about air pollution....

poor people, slave mentality... couple that with cultural heritage of rickshaws and it's still one of the major forms of short distance travel

You for real dude?

This is the detailed Dhaka RSTP Plan for 2015-2035, which is being implemented.

1. 5 Metro Lines
2. 6 Long Elevated Expressways.
3. 2 Bus Mass Rapid Transport Routes
4. 3 Outer Ring Roads
5. 8 Radial Roads


Dhaka and the surrounding areas would have world class infrastructure in 2035.

If Pakistan does not improve it's growth rate from long term average, BD'shis of 2035 would have twice the living standards of Pakistans by then as well.

Pakistan has NEVER ever come close to developing the way BD is doing today. This is the last country that should be criticising BD.

dude come to terms with the fact that none of the above will solve dhaka;s problem...
it needs a major rebuilt .... similar to what london and paris had gone through in the 19th/20th century

 

[fallstuff]

10 Things to Expect From Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh isn’t on most people’s radar. I mean, could you honestly tell me 2 things about Bangladesh? Could you point it out on a map? Do you know what the flag looks like?


Don’t feel bad if you are clueless about Bangladesh, because I was too before I traveled there in February 2017. I went to Dhaka (the capital city) without doing any research or having any idea what to expect… I wanted to challenge myself to see if I can figure it out on my own (which I did, of course)!

Dhaka is not exactly what you’d call a pretty city by any means. It’s chaotic. It’s dirty. It’s over populated. It’s lacking good infrastructure and tourist attractions. It’s not geographically located in a convenient place to visit, and there aren’t many airlines that fly there.

But all things considered, I actually enjoyed my time in Dhaka and I hope that you will consider visiting after reading this article. It’s a really good place to visit if you like going “off the beaten path” beacuse I can guarantee that most of your family and friends haven’t been before.

Without further adieu – here are 10 Things to Expect from Dhaka.

10 Things to Expect From Dhaka
*Please note that everything you read is coming from my personal experience in DHAKA only (I am not taking about other places in Bangladesh)… That being said, all thoughts, comments and opinions are mine*

1. Traffic is Unbearable

I put Dhaka in my Top 5 worst traffic cities, alongside Manila, Bangkok, Mumbai and Delhi. There isn’t much else to say other than expect to wait hours and hours without moving an inch. It’s really frustrating, but you have to embrace it beacuse it’s part of the Dhaka experience

I’ll just let this photo do the talking.

2. You Will Get Stared At

If you physically stand out (white skin, blonde hair or ESPECIALLY red hair) — then expect to be stared at everywhere you go in Bangladesh. I am pretty used to this after traveling all over India and living in rural village in Korea, but if you are not used to this, then you will have to adapt quickly. They don’t mean to be rude when they stare at you, they are simply surprised to see you and they will always smile at you if you nod your head in acknowledgement.

I can’t count how many times people came up to me on the street and asked to take a photo with me. So I took selfies with them

3. People are Friendly

My favorite part about visiting Bangladesh was the people. Almost everyone I came across was super friendly and they always went out of their way to help me. I was stopped on the street dozens of times everyday from people who asked if I needed any help with anything. I was offered to go inside people’s homes for chai (tea) and food. If I stood on a street corner looking around, someone would come up and ask me if I knew where I was going. It seemed that people were just as interested to get to know me as I was to know them.

In addition, I never once felt harassed or unsafe. I really enjoyed the kind hospitality of Bangladeshi people.

4. Pollution is Rampant

As you probably could have guessed from my traffic photo above — Dhaka is very polluted. It’s probably the most polluted city I’ve ever been to… So you’ll want to get yourself a mask when walking outside, to avoid breathing in dirt and chemicals from the excess amount of people, cars, tractors and factories.

5. It’s a Foodie Paradise

I was surprised to see how much food was offered in Dhaka! Not only Bangladeshi food, but so many chains that I recognized from the U.S. such as KFC and Burger King. There were loads of Korean, Japanese and Thai restaurants as well.

Bangladeshi food is similar to Indian food. Lots of curry-based dishes, soups, vegetables, roti and chai. Although contrary to in India, Bangladeshis eat a lot of meat (mutton, chicken, beef). My favorite dish that I ate in Dhaka was Mutton Leg Roast, as you see in the above photo.

I even ate at a Bangaldesh-Chinese fusion restaurants, which was fantastic and I can’t even describe what I was tasting.

6. It Might be the Cheapest Country in Asia

It’s hard to say for sure, because I still haven’t been to every country in Asia… But Bangladesh is amongst the cheapest countries in Asia and the world. Yes, even cheaper than India, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

This makes it much less stressful beacuse I didn’t have to worry about budgeting myself. I could splurge a little more on a nice dinner!

7. There Are Many Forms of Transportation

Tuk tuks, bicycles, taxis, buses, private cars, 3 wheeled rickshaws, and more — you have the option to decide how to get around. I took almost every form of transportation, and I enjoyed most the 3 wheeled rickshaws as I could get a great view of the city along the way.

If it’s rush hour and you’re in a hurry, then you might be better off walking instead of sitting in traffic.

8. It’s Mostly Cash Only

While most fancy restaurants & hotels will accept card (visa and mastercard), almost everything else in Bangladesh is cash only. Therefore, I recommend taking out a bunch of extra money at the ATM machine when you arrive at the airport, so you will be fully equipped on your trip. You can always exchange back the money when you’re leaving Dhaka

9. Most People Can Speak English

I was surprised to see the majority of people speaking (or understanding) English. This broke down cultural barriers and made it easier to make friends and do daily activities like ordering in a restaurant or riding in a taxi. When I was visiting some ruins (above), these young ladies came up to me and asked for a photo and we talked for a few minutes!

Many people will want to practice speaking with you if they see you, so be open to that and help them out!

10. Nothing Runs on Time

This is mostly due to the horrific traffic. Don’t expect to get anywhere on time. If you are meeting someone for dinner at 7, that really means 8. There is no way around it.

What can $10 Get you in Dhaka?
Find out in my video, which happens to be the most viral piece of content I’ve ever created!

What Can $10 Get You in Bangladesh?New Record! I got 10 items for less than $10 in #Bangladesh! It’s been a crazy fun (and overwhelming) experience here in #Dhaka, but I had a blast putting this video together. I also haven’t slept much beacuse I spent more than 15 hours editing this over the past 2 days.

Would love to get your thoughts and feedback so I can improve for my next episode in #Nepal TOMORROW (please comment what you liked or didn’t like)…

LIKE Drew Binsky on Facebook for more

Posted by Drew Binsky on Wednesday, February 8, 2017



Final Thoughts

Bangladesh is really a unique country and I recommend giving it a try if you find yourself in South Asia. My best and final piece of advice that I’ll give you is to go in with an open mind and get ready to experience something brand new.

Please contact me or comment below if you have any questions about Bangaldesh!

https://drewbinsky.com/10-things-expect-dhaka-bangladesh/

He kinda looks like Mark Zuckerberg.

He is right on the dot. Traffic in Dhaka is unlike any other. Every intersection is chaotic, yet no traffic accident. Its like there is a harmony in the chaos !

Dude it getting little too friendly with school girls !

 

[Death Professor]

poor people, slave mentality... couple that with cultural heritage of rickshaws and it's still one of the major forms of short distance travel

sure but we never had this kind human-operated tricycles. We did have tanga(horse carts) before but now from past 25+ years chingchi or rickshaws have been operated.

Chingchi(Qinqi)

Rickshaw:

Just for info these aren't even allowed in capital Islamabad. They make so much noise, it sometimes gets annoying. Anyways, I still think, any one in Pakistan would even opt for human-operated tricycles, too much work in extreme weather conditions, just for pennies.

 

[Nilgiri]

Dude it getting little too friendly with school girls !

That's the first thing that you noticed? He just taking a picture with them.

Then in another thread you get super butthurt at impression of BD as an extremist hellhole. What a hypocrite you are.

 

[Doctor Strange]

sure but we never had this kind human-operated tricycles. We did have tanga(horse carts) before but now from past 25+ years chingchi or rickshaws have been operated.

Chingchi(Qinqi)

Rickshaw:
View attachment 567953

Just for info these aren't even allowed in capital Islamabad. They make so much noise, it sometimes gets annoying. Anyways, I still think, any one in Pakistan would even opt for human-operated tricycles, too much work in extreme weather conditions, just for pennies.

Outside Dhaka there is no to little human run Rickshaws. All are battery run. But as Dhaka is densely populated there are more Rickshaws. And there were more battery run Rickshaws. As a result more Electricity consumption. When Govt was struggling to meet necessary Electricity demand. So govt decided to ban battery run Rickshaws from Dhaka City to save some electricity. It was 8-9 years ago. As BD produces more electricity these days, it can consider Battery run Rickshaws again in Dhaka city. For many of the Dhaka city parts where roads are very narrow, Rickshaws are only transportation choice. And they are banned from proper Dhaka city roads. Rickshaws have own routes and localized version of routes etc. A Dhaka city Rickshaw driver earns somewhere between $250-$350 a month. Its huge in BD compared to what many of the private office clerks earn. So Rickshaws arent going anywhere.

 

[xyxmt]

You for real dude?

This is the detailed Dhaka RSTP Plan for 2015-2035, which is being implemented.

1. 5 Metro Lines
2. 6 Long Elevated Expressways.
3. 2 Bus Mass Rapid Transport Routes
4. 3 Outer Ring Roads
5. 8 Radial Roads


Dhaka and the surrounding areas would have world class infrastructure in 2035.

If Pakistan does not improve it's growth rate from long term average, BD'shis of 2035 would have twice the living standards of Pakistans by then as well.

Pakistan has NEVER ever come close to developing the way BD is doing today. This is the last country that should be criticising BD.

My friend, I lived most of my life in North America, when I visited Pakistan last year, going to Karachi, Islo/Pindi then drive to Lahore. Other than the old City parts, a large parts of these cities makes you feel like you are in a developed country. The only issue i saw was in Karachi is that PPP govt has stopped picking up garbage, traveling from Pindi to Lahore and you would think you are going from Toronto to Monteral. BD needs decades to catch up, I guess Pakistani still have losts of jute money stashed up somewhere.

 

[Riyad]

man those tricycle human rickshaws, imagine if people(in Pakistan) had to do that just to survive....

Had seen alot of them in Indian/Bangla videos... And please not bs comment that this is to curb pollution, like they care about air pollution....

Human rickshaws are now battery rickshaws. Govt. is trying to replace rickshaws with motor vehicles in main road. Rickshaws will continue in side roads.

 

[Bengal71]

My friend, I lived most of my life in North America, when I visited Pakistan last year, going to Karachi, Islo/Pindi then drive to Lahore. Other than the old City parts, a large parts of these cities makes you feel like you are in a developed country. The only issue i saw was in Karachi is that PPP govt has stopped picking up garbage, traveling from Pindi to Lahore and you would think you are going from Toronto to Monteral. BD needs decades to catch up, I guess Pakistani still have losts of jute money stashed up somewhere.

The assumption here is we are trying to catch up with Pakistan in terms of infrastructure or we ever claimed infrastructure in BD is better. That is not the case, we know and say here repeatedly that infrastructure in BD is in shambles. There was no money to look into it or upgrade it, whatever money we had were spent on other priorities and will continue.

 

[Goku]

More or less every major South Asian city suffers from same problems
Infrastructure , Hygiene , pollution , people behaviour , over population etc

More or less every major South Asian city suffers from same problems
Infrastructure , Hygiene , pollution , people behaviour , over population etc

 

[Gibbs]

More or less every major South Asian city suffers from same problems
Infrastructure , Hygiene , pollution , people behaviour , over population etc

More or less every major South Asian city suffers from same problems
Infrastructure , Hygiene , pollution , people behaviour , over population etc

Colombo

Infrastructure - yes public transportation
Hygiene - Nope pretty clean
Pollution - Minute comparatively maybe because of sea frontage
People behaviour - Few touts or a few stares perhaps because they're used to large numbers of Western tourists
Over population - Nope

 

[Goku]

Colombo

Infrastructure - yes public transportation
Hygiene - Nope pretty clean
Pollution - Minute comparatively maybe because of sea frontage
People behaviour - Few touts or a few stares perhaps because they're used to large numbers of Western tourists
Over population - Nope

Thats why i said more or less

 

[Baby Leone]

cheapest city as per this foreigner who have visited Pakistan and India as well....

but as per Bangladeshis Dhaka is the most expensive city and comparable to developed cities.

 

[bluesky]

This is the detailed Dhaka RSTP Plan for 2015-2035, which is being implemented.

1. 5 Metro Lines
2. 6 Long Elevated Expressways.
3. 2 Bus Mass Rapid Transport Routes
4. 3 Outer Ring Roads
5. 8 Radial Roads

See the picture below. It seems guys like you have already fixed a real problem that is waterlogging in Dhaka. When did you fix this shame? Talk rationally instead of talking future like jet plane manufacturing program in the future. BD is infested with low IQ c*ckroaches like you. That is why it is not developing.

 

[pakpride00090]

You for real dude?

This is the detailed Dhaka RSTP Plan for 2015-2035, which is being implemented.

1. 5 Metro Lines
2. 6 Long Elevated Expressways.
3. 2 Bus Mass Rapid Transport Routes
4. 3 Outer Ring Roads
5. 8 Radial Roads


Dhaka and the surrounding areas would have world class infrastructure in 2035.

If Pakistan does not improve it's growth rate from long term average, BD'shis of 2035 would have twice the living standards of Pakistans by then as well.

Pakistan has NEVER ever come close to developing the way BD is doing today. This is the last country that should be criticising BD.

I will believe it when I will see it.

 

[Michael Corleone]

sure but we never had this kind human-operated tricycles. We did have tanga(horse carts) before but now from past 25+ years chingchi or rickshaws have been operated.

Chingchi(Qinqi)

Rickshaw:
View attachment 567953

Just for info these aren't even allowed in capital Islamabad. They make so much noise, it sometimes gets annoying. Anyways, I still think, any one in Pakistan would even opt for human-operated tricycles, too much work in extreme weather conditions, just for pennies.

well rickshaw is a transport native to bd... so i guess that's why there is prevelance... horse carts was used before rickshaws... in the 80-90s there was this petrol or diesel driven autorickshaws that is now replaced with LNG powered ones... in smaller streets battery powered ones are operated... dhaka needs a massive overhaul in it's public transport system... just banning rickshaws and CNGs are introdducing more bus should help mitigate extreme traffic jam