There are small stalls selling flower necklaces or head garlands, amra fruit and guava, jhal muri (dried rice mixed wiht spices), nuts, jewelry, cake, chickpeas with spices and fried potatoes, cigarettes and flasks of sugary tea.
Boys carry pink candyfloss on a pole. Young men with fancy cameras charge 10 taka (7 cent) too take a photo and send it straight to a phone: many of those posing will use it for their social media. Boys and young men swim in the adjoining Crescent Lake.
Zia Udyan – a park beside Bangladesh’s national parliament – is where thousands of Bangladeshis from all backgrounds in capital city Dhaka go to relax on Fridays. For many, this is their only day off.Young and old, rich and poor, gather to chat, stroll, play games, eat, drink and pass time together.Dhaka is predicted to surpass Jakarta and become the world’s most populous city by 2050. It could be the largest of 37 megacities globally, according to the united Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ World Urbanisation Prospects. The 2025 report said Dhaka has almost 37 million residents already.”Taken together, India, Nigeria, pakistan, Democratic Republic of the congo, Egypt, Bangladesh and Ethiopia are expected to add more than 500 million city residents between 2025 and 2050, accounting for over half of the projected 986 million increase in the global number of city dwellers over that period,” the UN report said. “The success or failure of urbanisation in these key countries will shape global development outcomes.”
Thousands of people gather on Fridays at Zia Udyan in Dhaka. Photograph: Sally Hayden.In total, bangladesh has a population of about 174 million people. Many are moving towards cities, with reasons including climate change and weather disasters, which Further along the path sat Nahid Shultana (60) and a woman she introduces as her maid servant. Shultana is a retired high schoolteacher of biology, home science and Bengali. She is a stroke patient. Doctor’s orders are that she should walk every day, though they drive to get to the park. in the rest of her free time she cooks and does physiotherapy.
Shultana says nothing to the extreme is good, including looking at your phone.Bangladeshis “are on their phones too much,it’s not necessary. There are a lot of other things to do,” she says.
“When I was coming here a big man scrolling on his mobile almost knocked me out. I try to get my maid servants from very remote places so they don’t have mobile phones.”
Nearby are three boys scrolling on their phones, who all live in the same neighbourhood. Ariful (16) and Bipul (18) are garment workers, and this is their only day off. Shahidul (16) works for an “online” company.
Bipul enjoys the free-to-play games on his phone.
Dhaka Park Life: A Glimpse into Leisure and Inequality in Bangladesh’s Capital
Dhaka, Bangladesh – For many residents of Dhaka, a sprawling megacity of over 23 million people, simple leisure activities like visiting the zoo, botanical gardens, or a local park offer a respite from the relentless pace of life.This glimpse into the lives of Dhaka residents reveals a city grappling with economic disparity, yet finding moments of connection and shared enjoyment.
Shishir, a member of the Dhaka police force, describes how precious free time is. He enjoys Fridays off, a luxury not afforded to many of his colleagues. “When we got recruited we took an oath that we are on 24/7,” he explains, highlighting the demanding nature of law enforcement in the city.
The reality of limited leisure time contrasts sharply with the experiences of others. Rakib (30),who works for the Coca-Cola company,prioritizes spending his Fridays with his wife,Rini,and their 11-month-old daughter,Rafah. Originally from Kushtia, a town 210km from Dhaka, Rakib has adjusted to life in the capital after being posted there eight years ago. “I didn’t like it here at first, but I’m coping,” he says.
Rakib acknowledges the economic divide within Dhaka. He notes that wealthier families frequently enough provide their children with more extravagant opportunities for recreation – “giving their children a car or a motorcycle to roam around and see things, but we can’t afford that.” However, he finds a sense of equality within the public spaces of the city.
“But inside the park,there is no discrimination,” Rakib observes. “I bought my kid a football. The street kids come to play with it.My kid plays with other kids, whether poor or rich it doesn’t matter. I support this.” This sentiment underscores a desire for social cohesion and shared experiences, even amidst economic challenges.
The park, thus, becomes a microcosm of Dhaka itself – a place where different worlds intersect, and where simple joys, like a game of football, can bridge the gaps between social classes.
This report was supported by the Simon Cumbers Media Fund.
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