PHOTO: MD MONOWARUL KABIR MILON

ASHIF AHMED RUDRO

If you live in Dhaka and are not from around here, chances are you had to look for an apartment one time or another. Apartment hunting in Dhaka is a special kind of punishment. And it’s not just the city; part of that reason is our own expectations.

People ponder a lot before renting a new apartment, and for good reason. This will be your abode for the foreseeable future, so it is important that it has that homely feeling. And it is that “homely” feeling that differs from person to person.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Some people prefer a busy city vibe. They want ease of access, clubs, shopping malls, and all the other city perks within their reach. Others are a bit more specific. They want a feeling of luxury and status, an air of poshness; for them Gulshan, Banani or Dhanmondi is usually at the top of their list.

Some people like a view. The feeling of sipping a warm cup of coffee in the morning, sitting on your balcony is truly a blessing. It might not seem like much of a demand to the rest of the country but for Dhaka, this is more than a demand; it’s almost like a wish. And if you have lived in the city long enough, you know how harsh, yet true, this is. For Dhaka, the usual sight out your balcony is the sight of another balcony. Or worse; a decaying concrete wall.

Some look for a well-maintained roof. But many are disappointed because the roofs stay either locked or out of bounds because even the “chilekotha” is also rented.

But perhaps none of these are as important as the apartment itself. The room, and the space it offers you. For many, it’s about finding the apartment that will nest them and their family comfortably. For most in the capital city, it’s the opposite: it’s about fitting everything in the apartment that you find because more often than not, the rent puts a dent on your wallet.

THE TRULY BLESSED ONES

Nobody in the city is as blessed as the person who can walk to his office. Most people have to commute through the rush hour, but there are those who somehow managed to find an apartment close enough to their workplace.

This has become one of the things that people look for in an apartment these days. How close is it to the metro station? And the apartments near the stations have become more enticing than khichuri on a rainy day.

Another group of lucky people live in the Old Dhaka, where one can still find a thriving community. Many people get depressed after moving in Dhaka because of how individualistic life gets here. People do not know who lives next door. If you want to escape that and get a sense of belonging in a community, ‘Old Dhaka’ is where it still remains.

THE ONES WHO CAN’T BE CHOOSERS

Bachelors; the group of people who are dismissed so vehemently in Dhaka that they can’t be choosers when it comes to apartments. They are lucky to find a place that allows them to stay in the first place. For them, the only factors to consider are: “Is it somewhat near to where I need to be?” and “How much is the rent?” along with a follow up question, “What is the eating arrangement here?” And that concludes their list of demands when it comes to looking for a place to stay.

The journey to finding the right apartment is a long and tedious one, and usually very exhausting. But it gets better once you are settled in. And if you can hit it off with your landlord, then it’s smooth sailing from there.