HOLIDAY
Oh Kolkata
-KAZI NASIM AHMED
It was a very hectic day. I did not expect that the leave would be sanctioned. My leave was due for long but I was on deputation. When I was informed that the MD has approved my leave I rushed for visa because I did not want to waste a single moment. I collected the visa form from Danik bhai of Ganer Dali who frequently visits Kolkata for business purpose. I knew that he has plenty of stock of Indian visa form and I was right. Danik bhai gave me the form but my photograph? I discovered that I have run short of photograph. Danik bhai again salvaged me. He took me to a nearby computer lab and ordered them to quickly arrange four copies of passport size photograph through their digital camera. I prepared the visa form in the night and went for visa at the morning.
It was about 8’O clock in the morning and a big queue in front of the Indian visa center at Gulshan. It was not at all possible on my part to stand in the queue for hours and submit visa application. I again called Danik bhai who managed to submit the visa application. Mr. Mushtaque of the visa center was very nice with me.
After getting the visa I felt like a free bird. Immediately rushed to Green Line Bus authority for Dhaka-Kolkata ticket but there was no room for that night. However, I managed a Dhaka-Benapole ticket from Shohag counter because I wanted to go Kolkata on that day. Break journey is cumbersome but I had no option.
At the early morning our bus reached at Benapole land port. The journey was nice. Bangladesh has achieved tremendous development in road transport especially in bus service. Number of AC buses ply through different routes and their service is very good.
I caught a rickshaw for Tk15.00 to reach to the border. Unlike other times I received totally different treatment from Bangladesh Police and customs. The usual non-cooperative attitude is absent rather they were cordial. I believe it is due to the present anti-corruption drive of the Caretaker Government.
As usual Indian customs and police was not nice to me. Surrounded by numerous unwanted people they openly asked for bribe. But I was very tough this time. Did not bother to pay heed to their indications. Some ‘dalas’ were asking for encashment of dollar at their designated counter and also passed many unwanted advise.
At Petrapole, Haridaspur (Indian border checkpost) I again caught a rickshaw for Rs 30.00 to get to Bongaon Station to catch a Sealdah (Kolkata) bound train. The train was waiting for me at the platform. It was a local train, which touches every station towards Sealdah. But the journey was very comfortable and enjoyable as the daily passengers of this train were very cordial and friendly. They like to discuss anything and everything of this world. We discussed the present Bangladesh condition. They are very much interested to know about Bangladesh, as most of the people of this region of West Bengal were from Bangladesh that is erstwhile East Bengal. They have a soft corner for the people of this region. However, people may differ with me.
Rightly said Dominique Lapierre, Kolkata is city of joy. At Kolkata you can get many thing at a cheaper price. The city has becoming little costlier now a day.
I always like beef dishes of Kolkata. These are available in the Muslim dominated area of the city like Rajabazar, Collin Lane, Khidirpur etc. You can also have beef at Howrah, Pilkhana area.
You can have everything in a Muslim hotel right from Magz (brain), Kaleeji (Lever), Beef bhuna, chap, kebab etc at a very reasonable price.
The West Bengal government has done a tremendous job. They have constructed Millennium Park beside the river Ganga. It is a beautiful Family Park with a number of free ride. The park was full of young couple having their private time. I cannot understand why we do not built such park beside the river Buriganga. It can be very beautiful walkway for the city dwellers.
To meet my curiosity I visited several kitchen markets of the mega-city and found that prices of some of the items are almost identical with Dhaka. But some items like potato are pretty cheap in Kolkata.
However, due to the devastating floods prices are soaring in Dhaka. I have heard that prices in Kolkata market are also soaring for the same reason.
One should keep in mind that supplies from allover India favour the Kolkata market, whereas Dhaka is dependent on import from India for some items.
A constant watch over the subcontinent markets will give insight regarding price behaviour of essentials.
During my visit it has been revealed that Kolkata has made tremendous achievements in terms of communication and beautification. Kolkata is a mega city and tourist attraction for years but the present development is really worth mentioning. We, at Dhaka, can learn many things from them.
