Dhaka's "Fun" Weekend: Bread and Circuses While the Ship Sinks?
Alright, let's get this straight. Dhaka's having a "fun" weekend? While the whole damn country seems to be going to hell in a handbasket? Give me a break.
So, we've got a "Street Food Festival" promising "an explosion of intense and varied flavours." Cool. Meanwhile, the price of onions – onions, for chrissake – has skyrocketed from Tk 70 to Tk 120 per kg. People are struggling to afford basic staples, but hey, at least they can enjoy some "authentic tastes" at a festival, right? What kind of tone-deaf BS is that? Onion prices skyrocket in Dhaka; from Tk 70 to Tk 120 per kg What kind of tone-deaf BS is that?
And a "Dhaka Flow Fest," promoting "movement, meditation, creativity, and connection." Sponsored by United Commercial Bank Ltd, no less. I'm sure the average Dhakaiite, choking on "unhealthy" air (more on that later), is just thrilled to connect with their inner self while worrying about how to feed their family.
Oh, and there's a book launch, too. "Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia." Sounds… cheerful. Perfect for a city grappling with its own set of present-day problems.
Speaking of problems, let's talk about the air. Dhaka's air quality is "unhealthy." Shocker. Ranked 11th worst in the world, apparently. And what's the government doing? Throwing a street food festival. It's like Nero fiddling while Rome burns, except instead of fiddling, they're serving jhalmuri.
They know the air is killing people, right? The article even quotes the WHO: "Air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year." But hey, gotta keep the masses distracted with "community fun experiences."
But the real kicker? The protests. While everyone's busy doing yoga and eating street food, students are rioting because the government caved to Islamist groups and cancelled plans to hire music and PT teachers. Seriously?
"Islamist groups called such jobs ‘un-Islamic’ and threatened to take to the streets if the interim government went ahead with the appointments." And the government folded. Just like that.
And what's their excuse? "Flaws in the development and feasibility of the programme." Right. I'm sure that's totally the reason and not because they're scared of a bunch of religious extremists.
The government official said "You can check for yourself" when asked if it was due to Islamist pressure. I am checking, and it sure as hell looks like it.
It's all connected, ain't it? The rising onion prices, the toxic air, the government kowtowing to religious nutjobs… It’s a perfect storm of incompetence and corruption. And the solution? A "vibrant wellness weekend." Yeah, that'll fix everything.
Gen Z is apparently "raging at rotten governance" from Dhaka to Colombo. Good for them. Someone needs to. From Dhaka to Colombo, Gen Z has started raging at rotten governance
Look, I'm not saying people shouldn't have fun. But when the government is actively ignoring (or even exacerbating) serious problems, these "fun" events start to feel… suspicious. Like a cheap way to keep the masses quiet while the country crumbles. Maybe I'm being too cynical. Maybe I need to attend the Dhaka Flow Fest and find my inner peace. Nah. I'd rather stay angry.
