Dhaka on the move: views from a metro ride

Have you ever felt a sense of calm while riding the metro in Dhaka? No, not the kind that implies silence or rest – Dhaka doesn’t allow that – but a softer hum, as if the city is holding its breath? I’m sure you did, if you could somehow manage to get a ride during a less busy time, because it’s hard for anyone to breathe inside during rush hour!

From the elevated tracks, you’ll see the contrasts of Dhaka come to life. This chaotic city is silent in the metro sofas. The noise of the streets fades behind the glass, and all that remains is a peaceful spectacle: a sprawling megacity revealed in fragments, each more vivid and contradictory than the last.

From Motijheel to Uttara North, the first thing you might notice is the majestic Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, which stands like a timeless sentinel of a bygone era on one side. On the other, you’ll see the glittering skyscrapers that herald the city’s aspirations for the future.

The juxtaposition is striking – it serves as a reminder that the soul of Dhaka lies in its ability to embrace the old and the new with equal fervor.

As the train passes Sochibaloy (Secretariat), your eye is irresistibly drawn to the Chummery House, and then to the bright red Curzon Hall, which attracts attention with its unique charm and deep historical significance.

Further afield, the lush canopy of Suhrawardy Udyan provides a calming contrast to the urban bustle, while the solemn Mausoleum of the Three Rulers stands quietly amidst the greenery, remembering the sacrifices that shaped the nation. Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument) greets you in between, another poignant reminder of our independence. The Mukta Mancha actually looks mukta (free) from above here. The trip will start to feel like a theater performance at this point.

But the sound of steel wheels against the rails and the sudden screech of the train slowing into the station, along with the occasional announcements, might jolt you out of your thoughts. And when another subway speeds by on the opposite track – a sudden, blurry movement – ​​it can make your heart race. So be aware!

As the metro passes through Shahbagh and beyond, you will see the new, well-furnished corporate or commercial high-rises fit in with the old ones. The city here looks like a concrete jungle.

However, before reaching Bijoy Sarani, the beautiful greenery of Parliament House – its manicured parks and manicured lawns – will surely soothe your eyes, offering you a brief respite from the urban sprawl.

Views of the landscape shift from here to Uttara North, as does traditional bioscope imagery. You will see a series of buildings, new and old, then a series of plains; especially after crossing Pallabi station, the tight grip of the concrete loosens here, and you might feel like you’re crossing into the middle of nowhere.

As you can see, the Dhaka Metro doesn’t just cross geography; it sums up time. The stations, with their clean lines and utilitarian design, speak of an attempt to order a city that resists neat narratives. On the outside, the city is a storyteller: its roofs covered in linen, its streets bustling with people and traffic, its walls splashed with murals, graffiti and posters proclaiming political manifestos. Even the passing sky plays its part. In this elevated world, Dhaka seems sweeter.

The metro here is much more than its steel and concrete architecture. It is a mirror, reflection of a city that is never still, never silent, always in motion.