Bangladesh was ranked as one of the top progressive economies in the world. At the same time, Dhaka city was placed among the bottom in the best cities to live and work in. There are many reasons to love Dhaka city but there is big room for urban development as well. Until we have the necessary means to live a ‘hassle-free’ life, we city dwellers have to adjust and make life easier by ourselves. With over almost 20 million people, living in Dhaka city is sure a challenge. Every day you must be prepared to make the best out of your time and money. But as the number of people living in the city is abnormally high, doing the same thing as everyone else will not get you anywhere. That’s why we present to you a few everyday hacks to make your life in Dhaka easier than before.
Efficient City Commute
Cost of living is undoubtedly the most taxing concern for everyday life in Dhaka; especially the working class. As a cheap mode of transport for a long distance, most people would choose the bus over any other alternative. It is up to you which transport you want to use but the route that you choose can make a huge difference. For instance, if you are to travel from Mirpur to Banani, you can either choose to commute via Agargaon, the cantonment area or via the airport road. All three routes allow almost all sorts of vehicles. Based on timing and your location, you need to figure out which route is the best. But given the nature of roadside construction projects in Bangladesh, you can pretty much cross off Agargaon from your list anyway.
Secondly, if you are on a tight schedule and running late, a reasonable alternative could be ride-sharing services. Again the choice is up to you as there are many ongoing debates about the safety and security of these modes of transportation. A pro tip for such days, try to leave really early, around 7-am-ish if you have no problem reaching your destination ahead of time.
Utilizing Time In Traffic
Dhaka traffic wastes nearly five million working hours annually. In monetary value, it costs us around BDT 37,000 crore. You waiting in the traffic and wasting time means you are also contributing to this massive loss as well. Therefore, to make the best use of your life in Dhaka, you can choose to do any of your other pending work. Carry a laptop or tab if possible. If not, you can use this time to get your mind off mundane city life by reading books or doing other things that you think can boost you up for the day.
Getting The Best Shopping Deal
Life in Dhaka can be really fun as almost all the stores in the best shopping malls can be turned into bargain shops instantly. Regardless of how fancy the shopping mall is, there is always room for a discount, if you can bargain right. But you will notice a huge difference in price between products from two different markets. Cases might be, the products are of different qualities or it is just the location. Because when you visit an air-conditioned fancy shopping mall, no matter what you purchase, your product’s price will include some cost of all the facilities you receive. This includes the shop rent, electricity charges, staff charges, security, and others.
But if these facilities are not a must, you can easily ditch them and go to a regular market. One of the most popular spots is the Dhaka New Market where you can always find the less expensive alternative for almost everything.
Tackling The Monsoon
During the monsoon season, you never know when you will face a downpour and get drenched unexpectedly. Therefore, the best defense is to keep an umbrella with you at all times. But only an umbrella will not cut it for you as your belongings and clothes might still get wet too. Plus, you need to take care of that water-dripping umbrella as well. Therefore, you can keep a few dry plastic bags with you and use them to store all these things. Another pro tip, if you are not too picky about shoes, you can try wearing keds/sandals/shoes with plastic soles. Most of them are waterproof and easy to clean!
Finding Favorite Food
Another concern with life in Dhaka city is that most food places remain packed, especially during the weekends. But should that stop you from getting your favorite food? Unless you really want to visit the restaurant, you can have almost all kinds of food available delivered to your home. Considering the time and money, food delivery companies are offering a good deal. If you are not looking forward to having restaurant food, there are now homemade food delivery options as well. But for that, you need to place the orders beforehand as they have limited stocks and need time to deliver as well.
Please share your experiences and hacks with us as well. We could use your help too. Any comments or thoughts, leave them in the comments section below!
