Life returns to normalcy in Uttara, Mirpur amid shadows of ruins

Life in Dhaka’s Uttara and Mirpur neighbourhoods, two of the hotspots of the recent student-led uprising marked by violence and casualties, has started to return to normal.

Visiting Uttara on 10 September, this correspondent saw workers busy repairing the facade of the multistoried Square Bhaban. Broken glass panels were being replaced with plywood boards, while the road in front remained as bustling as ever. 

The repair work is a tangible reminder of the chaos that unfolded here just a month ago. Square Bhaban, along with other heavily damaged buildings and markets, still bears visible scars, though these are gradually being concealed as recovery efforts continue.

In Mirpur, Urmila Halder was waiting for a CNG-run three-wheeler to commute to her office. A month ago, she would have used the metro rail. 

However, the nearby Mirpur-10 metro station, a casualty of the recent unrest, now lies in ruins, a stark symbol of the turmoil that swept through to topple Sheikh Hasina’s government.

A visit to the Mirpur and Uttara neighbourhoods on 10 September showed that despite the visible damage, the morning hustle and bustle had returned. Office-goers fill the streets, tea stalls, and restaurants regain their patrons, and shops reopen to welcome customers.

Md Sharif Ghazi, the manager of Ahad Furniture in BNF Centre, one of the worst-affected buildings in Uttara, told TBS that businesses are reopening and people are resuming their daily routines. 

“After the new interim government took over, the markets here reopened. Everyone has come back to their shops and businesses. Life has returned to normal, although the vandalism here has yet to be fully repaired,” he added.

Nearby, at Syed Grand Market, repair work is underway. Nazrul Islam, manager of Uttara Food and Sweets in the market, reflected on the slow recovery of business.

“People’s normal life has returned here, but our business has not yet reached its previous levels. Earlier, we used to sell around Tk80,000 per day. Now it is down to about Tk40,000, but it is growing, and hopefully, things will be back to normal soon,” he said.

However, for Mirpur residents, the absence of the metro rail service has been a significant loss.

Local resident Sohrab Hossain said, “We had become used to the metro. It saved time and offered a hassle-free ride. Unfortunately, it was badly damaged, and its repair might take a long time.”

“However, we are adjusting other ways to get to work,” he added.