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A Sri Lankan in Dhaka
Bangladesh, what a place to go? A question asked by many when I decided to come here. Prone to floods and other natural disasters, I was told that there would be nothing else but fish for food.
Were these the reasons not to come to Bangladesh? I guess not and now that I have been here for almost a decade, I have found myself more accustomed to everything I was told about Bangladesh.
Living in the posh, diplomatic area of Gulshan in the city, one would think that it was the most beautifully kept and disciplined part of the country. No it is not, and coming from a small country like Sri Lanka, I could see many differences between the two.
I expected Dhaka, the capital, to be clean and at least partly pollution-free. Well I should not have had high expectations. After all, Bangladesh is just another developing country as Sri Lanka, and we all come from the same region.
Yet I could not help but wonder, why I never saw tourists in the city. The commercial capital Colombo is in abundance of tourists, even though the flow of tourists was slack during the peak periods of its ethnic troubles. Walking in the city of Colombo one could see the sojourners at almost every nook and corner, a sight I miss very much in Dhaka. Whenever I found a foreigner in Dhaka, the person was here, either for work or on some official business. But then how could I compare Dhaka to Colombo?
What attraction do I find in the city of Dhaka? Other than the free open space of the parliament complex, the Ramna Park, the National Museum, the Wonderland Amusement Park, the Fantasy Kingdom and a long drive along the Ashulia Road, there is nothing else to be found.
Colombo, a modern city still has reminders of its colonial past. Its busy market places, Buddhist and Hindu temples and mosques
contrast with the high-rises, smart shopping malls and a multi-national chain of hotels is a blend of old and new, east and west. About seven five-star hotels apart from four, three, two-star hotels, are in plenty. State-of-the-art communications and cyber services are available too.
The Dutch period and Colombo National Museum, the old and new Parliament Houses, and the Zoo are sightseeing highlights. Colombo offers visits to one of the world's leading tea auctions, seasonal Buddhist and Hindu pageants, international cricket tournaments, plush casinos and evening entertainment.
Good roads and rail transport link Colombo with all tourist resorts. Many cruise lines call at the Colombo sea-port.
Dhaka lacks the tourism infrastructure - no suitable accommodation, no sightseeing sights in the city, no evening entertainment and no religious pageants. Splendours such as the Ahsan Manzil and the Lalbagh Fort,
which were left behind by the Moghul rule and many historical structures, have been neglected due to maintenance faults. Narrow streets and inconvenience in travelling to such places of value has once again made these forgotten sites. If the old buildings were restored to its original beauty, Dhaka, the once modern city, no doubt would regain its lost beauty and flourish. A rickshaw ride round the city on a quiet summer evening would be an attraction one would not want to miss. Dhaka's hospitality and delicious Bengali food will make one want to visit it over and over again.
Yet, after nine years, I am still in Dhaka. I love it with its entire have and have-nots. Hopefully the authorities will do what it takes, to make tourism a booming industry in this country, so that all could proudly stand up and shout "Amar Sonar Bangla"!
Silverine Shrikanthan is a teacher working in Bangladesh and a sub-editor at The Daily Star.