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Dhaka Day by Day

Blossoms en route to Work

by Fayza Haq
I wonder how the roadside flowers and leaves ever breathe and thrive In the city There la not only the sweat and grime emanating from thousands of rickshaws and motor cycles that ply the streets of Dhaka There are also the buses and "tempos' phis the three wheeled baby-taxis giving out poisonous black fumes. Even truck* and vans let off
T. S. Eliot said that April is the cruellest month Yet the Easter Ubes and cannas are out in the private gardens at Dhanmandi and Parlbagh The bougalnvtlla* and other blossoms near the Shangshad Bhaban seem perennial. The Manik Mian Aveneue — the road leading from Mirpur Road to Sonargaon — is laden with flowers and thick green leaves somehow all the years round.
I am more concerned and bewildered as how honeysuckles and multi-coloured bougainvillas survive the heat, the carbon monoxide, and the rush and sweat of thousands who pass by tn places like Motljheel.
Road No 2 in Dhanmandi begins with dainty yellow florets as the BDR is there tb water and tend to them. Next come the numerous embassy houses which encourage flowers to grow tn a soothing and exotic manner. This is not to say there Is not a heavy flow of traffic there to choke the trees and flowers as well as the saplings. The students tn the vicinity with their periodic stampede and bewildering activities, like hijacking cars and burning tyres, are enough to give the botanical creatures a Jolt. It is common knowledge that plants need carbon dioxide and not fresh oxygen. But the roads leading from Sat masjid Road to Motljheel form no sanitised Kew Garden.
As one progresses, to the New Elephant Road there are the cool "neetn" trees. Ten year* back there were cherry blossom plants In the same place. Apparently the delicate plants did not survive the hectic onslaught of the surrounding traffic and crowd of thousands pushing, milling and buying their requisite commodities Even in those days 1 used to be amazed that no one plucked the blossoms.
As one goes to Shahbagh there are nurseries and flower stalls. All you have to possess is money to help yourself to the wonderful arrangement of tuberoses, gladiolus, temple flowers jasmine and “chambelis". Even when you have neither the time nor the inclination to actually buy the flowers or plants, the very sight of them is soothing for the mental makeup. Sure, some of the flowers in the flowers shops and nurseries have been imported from India and Pakistan or even Srl Lanka. They may not be of indigenous growth but they definitely gladden the eye.'
Along the official buildings near the NGO Affairs Bureau there are "champas" and more blossoms. These are not seen often. But glimpses of them have a cooling Impact while the rains have not yet come down in wild
The Ramna Park looks bedraggled and moth-eaten at times and could be better tended. The palm and banana trees along with the occasional hybiscus and eucalyptus thrive because of the Intrinsic good quality of the soil. Whatever is there tn the park in the form of plants and trees, though often destroyed by "tokals". who gather barks of trees and twigs for a living. 1s not to be scorned. As the passenger progresses in his rickety rickshaw with Its near self-ejecting seat, with harsh sunlight pouring into his eyes, he welcomes the greenery.
Some of the sophisticated Motljheel offices, such as the prestigious banks, do keep potted plants along with paintings for the benefit of the workers and the visitors. But what surprises me are the plants tn front of the sweet shops or places where one can buy spectacles. At least four of the shops In Motljheel and New Elephant Road have overhanging blossoms specially cultivated and cared for. These are undoubtedly a welcome sight
In a city of mosques people will brighten their place of worship. The flowers that hang out of the iron fellgree gates of Baitul Mukarram keep their colour, shape, and charm with some magic In all the scorching heat stifling dust and floating muck. 1 marvel at the tenacity of the plants although I realise that the keepers of the mosques must necessarily be watering them regularly.
The roads of the city 12 years ago, had more trees lining them. Today they are still Interesting to study. While some bear bats others carry Jackfruit and even temple flowers.
With the wild rush to go to and fro everyday, the office to attend, the shopping to do. the markets to run to. there is a tremendous amount of foul air floating about the vicinity. Yet the flowers and leaves survive the dust, grime, bad odour and lift the spirits of the average man struggling to get his day s work done. There is no Botanical Garden en route to work. But one cannot help admiring the courage and determination of the flowers that bloom on the way to my office.