Dhaka weekend goals: Birds, fritters, and campus life at JU

In a thicket of Mahagony, Segun, and Raintrees, the Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus is a rolling 697.56 acres of topographical beauty. A few kilometres from the main city on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, the JU campus can be your next weekend outing.

The splendour of the campus doubles up with seasonal blooms of fiery red Krishnachuras, pretty mauve Jaruls, golden Sonalus, Kanakchuras, and Radhachuras in the summer, and in winter, the shimmering lakes and ponds of the campus host the annual migratory flight of Whistling Teals, Pintail Ducks, and Mallards. The 20-bigha jungle inside the campus is also a haven for reptiles and rare animals.

Simply put, JU is a picturesque, ecologically diverse destination. Much has been said and written about the attractions of the campus, but I want to simply put to the fore the unknown fun facts in and around the campus.

Dotted with thatched food shacks and tea stalls throughout, each vendor comes up with their specialty spin for the place to go trending.

Crispy oyster mushroom fritters, which is basically a version of tempura mushroom, is one surprise treat you will find in the shacks selling all sorts of fried vegetable yummies. Oyster mushrooms, dipped in a thick batter of flour, egg, and spices, are addictive because of their crispy outer crust and tender meaty texture inside. This item is a hit with the students and they merrily share a plate.

Kodbel or Wood apple mush, served in the hard shell of the fruit is such a palate cleanser. Mixed with hot chilli, fresh coriander, and mustard oil, the brown patchy fibrous pulp with crunchy seeds, sends out a mouth-watering tamarind-like scent. The mama who makes the bhorta is famous even among outsiders visiting the campus. His van, stationed under the canopy of a big tree, has all sorts of sour and citrusy delights.

Tea is a steady item everywhere in the city, but right beside the food stalls sits a young boy brewing his special tea with bay leaves and nigella seeds. Lightly sugared, this black tea is an instant energy booster.

"The mamas or food sellers here on the campus never compromise with the food quality because students eat there. Fresh vegetables are used from nearby farms, oil is changed frequently and in their sense of the word, they try to maintain hygiene," says Shadhin, an ex-student who came to spend his weekend evening amidst the green.

Cashing in on weekenders visiting the campus, local fishmongers set up their pop-up retails right at the turn of the main gates as you head out. With dim yellow light from the moshals or burning oil canisters held up by tall sticks, the set-up is spread out by big polythene sheets, where a group of no-nonsense fishmongers brings in their best catch from the Bhairab night fish market.

Giant catches of rohu, coral, the rare bagha ayer, or long-whiskered catfish, are up for sale and go off the racks like hotcakes. They also have a man with a big fish blade to cut the fish for you. You just have to be careful that no one else runs off with your purchase in all that chaos of scaling, cutting, etc.