Pohela Boishakh

Colours explode as the sun rises. “Esho, esho…” we sing in welcome. We paint our faces, our walls, our streets. Despite the scorching sun, the melas are irresistible. The nagordolas spin us giddy with happiness. Nothing defines 'Bangali' better than Pohela Boishakh. This is probably the only time when the average Dhakaite looks past KFC to the guy selling panta-ilish on the street. Haal-khatas are opened, and sweets are distributed. The entire nation celebrates the promise of a new beginning. We revel in a celebration of our very selves. “Ekdin Bangali chilam re…” we remember.

By TheAlien4mEarth

Boats

Photo: Sabhanaz Rashid Diya

In most countries, boats are used only for pleasure cruises and fishing. But here in Bangladesh, they take on a whole new meaning. They are an essential part of our lifestyle, and this realisation can dawn upon us anytime from crossing that narrow canal on our way to our village, to waking up one November morning and stepping on a boat that will take us to school. In this country of floods and rivers, we would be crippled without boats. Thus there are so many different types of them, from the pretty petite Dinghy to the luxurious Bajra.

By Anashua

Suhrawardi Uddyan

It's right next to TSC. Suhrawardi contains any and all kinds of street food, including the ones you thought had disappeared when you were six. There's cotton candy in ten different colours, of which two are made of salt instead of sugar. Like all other parks, it's the go-to area for romantic rendezvous and photography classes, but Suhrawardi is also the only park BUET students waste their precious time venturing into. Also, it contains the only clean public toilet in Bangladesh. Now you know why it beat Ramna for a spot in this list.

By Professor Spork

Photo: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

Deshi Food

All the expensive eateries in the world can't compare to our 10 TK per plate phuchka and other street delicacies. Foreigners complain about our amazing street food being unhygienic and being only for the locals, well unlucky for them, they're missing out on the good stuff! Take a trip to Old Dhaka and have a feast on 100TK or less. Everything from delicious platefuls of biryani to parathas and Veggies, Old Dhaka is your haven. Our phuchkas, chotpotis, dalmuts, mishti bakerkhanis are incomparable to anything. And let's not forget the local delicacies outside of Dhaka - we have the delicious (albeit slightly stinky) shutki bhorta of Cox's Bazaar, shatkora from Sylhet, kalairuti of Rajshahi and plenty more.

By Musarrat Rahman

Piracy

How sorry do you feel for that cousin of yours living in America who just paid 1750 taka for the same Inception DVD that you bought with 60 taka? Yours was a six-in-one too, so you got five other movies for free. For him, that would be, what, 125 dollars? That's 8750 taka. You could buy half a computer with that money here. Where else on earth can you get cell phone parts at less than a quarter of the actual price, or a completely authentic-looking Armani jacket for 500 taka? It's one of the most awesome things about Bangladesh!

By Professor Spork

Rain

Rain. It's everywhere. The endless depressing drizzle in London makes you take out your umbrella to protect your little self. You scurry home to safety lest the raindrops claim you. It smells like gloom the morning after. But here, rain makes you come racing to the paddy fields, arms wide in welcome. In the city, you would run to the rooftops, nostrils pricked for that scent of earth amidst the city smoke. The wild kalboishakhi, the moody monsoons, or the sudden out-of-season showers. A sunny rain in the city or a drenching one in the village, any kind of rain here makes us jump for joy. Take your pick.

By TheAlien4mEarth

Photo: Andrew Biraj

Holiday Traffic, The Bangladeshi version

Holiday traffic is universal, but the Bangladeshi one is unique from all aspects. Where people from other countries would choose not to spend holidays with their families if they're unable to get tickets, we will spend nights after nights at the station, fight with 50 strangers for a ticket; pull deadly stunts to get on the vehicle, never thinking twice about not going. Every year, twice a year, the holiday crowd shows their indomitable spirit that makes those holidays much more special.

By Orin