Amid the hustle and bustle of the Dhaka metropolitan city, the morning breaks quite differently in Hatirjheel waterfront. Sunshine reflects beautifully on the lake water and a light breeze waves its fingers through young trees and leaves. The breeze also touches the pedestrians and the early-risers, endearing their mood. People promenade on the walkways fret-free and relish the sites.
In the evening the lakefront adorns itself with different hues: colourful lights illuminating the wide expanse of lake and concrete structures enthral visitors of all ages. The city dwellers win respite from their busy life and savour tea or coffee happy-hour with friends while engaging in lively addas.
Hatirjheel waterfront is surrounded by Tejgaon, Gulshan, Badda, Banasree, Niketon and Maghbazar, and it made the transportation of the people living in these areas much easier. The waterfront is grandly designed with about four main and four minor bridges or viaducts, and several overpasses and footbridges. At the heart of the waterfront lies a lovely lake, surrounded by a 16km-long road and walkways. The area is pleasantly decorated with flowering shrubs and trees.
The Hatirjheel authority offers several facilities for the visitors and the people living nearby. Every day four water taxis cruise the water body from 6am to 10pm. Each of the taxis has the capacity to carry as many as 30 passengers. There are four landing ghats to avail this service. They are located at Rampura, the FDC, Gulshan and Merul-Badda. A commuter will have to pay Tk 30 to go to Badda Link Road from the FDC area and Tk 25 to go to Rampura Bridge from the FDC.
Some paddling boats with peacock-head bows can be spotted at the Rampura landing ghat. Visitors can paddle around the lake in these boats from the morning till 10pm at night. The rent is on an hourly-basis. The fair is kept low since the authority wanted to make sure that people from all walks of life could ride on them. The staffs who supervise riding on and off the boats are very friendly; they invite people warmly and if asked, they help learn how to paddle them.
Eight water buses ply the nearby areas all day. They can be spotted easily as the service name is emblazoned on the body of these buses - 'Hatirjheel round bus', the name is appropriately taken as these buses travel the entire waterfront in a round manner. During the rush hours - in the morning and the evening - the buses teem with a lot of office and school goers.
But at midday they would hardly be full. Though there is no air-conditioning system in them, people would still opt for these buses, as the sitting arrangement is quite different inside. The seats are arranged in a round manner, giving people a relaxed ambience to chatter face-to-face and enjoy the surroundings.
From midday till dusk, star-crossed lovers could be seen sitting on the benches or strolling down the walkways with beaming face. Young Romeos also amble around and string a tune in their guitar while sending puffs of cigarette-smokes in a careless manner. Bridges with the lake water beneath, lights reflecting off the water surface and rows of trees around the lake - all together give the youngsters a sense of romance.
Looking back at history, one can enrich his/her visiting experience in Hatirjheel. Legend has it that the elephants of Dhaka Pilkhana were taken for bath in these wetlands, hence the name originated - Hatirjheel. Urban planner and architect Iqbal Habib, who heads the consultant firm of the Hatirjheel-Begunbari development project, said that the Bhawal Raja used to keep his tamed elephants at Pilkhana. He also added that the elephants were taken to the wetlands through the Elephant Road and Hatirpool.
The Hatirjheel-Begunbari project was inaugurated on January 2, 2013. Since then numerous tourists and pedestrians visit the site every day to enjoy the surroundings, fresh air and the reflection on the lake water. There are also many food courts that offer snacks and lunch packs.
Every day after sunset an amazing light, colour and music-work dazzles the visitors' eyes. Inaugurated a couple of months ago, the 1,980 square metre Hatirjheel Musical Dancing Fountain is the first dancing water fountain in Bangladesh. The fountain makes three-dimensional images by laser-effect; the lake water also reflects off light sent by the gushing fountain while some background music enchants the visitors' auditory sense. In future, there would also be a theatre adjacent to the fountain, as the authority promised.
Hatirjheel waterfront is a perfect visiting place for Dhaka dwellers. Here, you can breathe fresh air and look up at the sky or at the lake water. Your mind would be at ease, and your day may also end perfectly if you croon a Tagore's song: '
Klanti amay khoma koro provu,
pothe jodi pichiye pori kovu.
Ei je hia thoro thoro,
kape aaji emontoro,
ei bedona khoma koro,
khoma koro provu...'
Photo: Alex Romario
