Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Every city has a trademark point of its own. Without having any second thoughts, Nilkhet will come first for the people of Dhaka. Placed in the heart of Dhaka, along with the ceaseless bustle of its streets and the perpetual rush of its inhabitants, lies a place that seems to defy the very concept of rest. Mainly, it is very famous for the book market, more like a paradise of books for book lovers.
Along with sharing the chaos, its best beauty is that it never sleeps; it never takes rest, even during vacation. Whatever the vacation is, it can be Eid or the long-standing tradition of Pohela Baisakh. It is always ready to serve, ignoring the agony and plight during the intense heatwave of summer.
When talking about the experiences of buyers and sellers, it comes with a mixed reaction. There is no room for doubt that this place is a blessing to students, job seekers, or anyone who loves reading books as it contributes to easing the burden on their already strained wallets.
When people leave the city, the buyers, who are the leading curators of this area, stand still to sell, not because they want to but because they must live with what they earn by selling. Their confined words were never written into any books or sold, but they enjoyed the plight with great agony.
Other parts of the coin portray the same scenario but slightly differently. When it becomes a desired place for the students and others who want to fulfil their thirst, they find peace and joy. People visit this place to prepare their future outlines with affordable study materials. Nilkhet and its curators help them find out, though the city remains closed during vacations or trying times.
While asking a buyer from Nilkhet named Tofazzal Ali, who has been selling books here for many years, he stated that he wants to remain close to his shops sometimes, but he can't as he has two children and a full family, all of them depending on him.
Another statement was collected from a Dhaka University student named Abu Al Mahmud Mohsin, who has deep insights. He said if he needs any book, the first thing that comes to mind is Nilkhet. Notably, he added about vacation and the real scenario of Nilkhet. He said during COVID times, some sellers sold books on the roads; eventually, he was lucky to collect and buy books before his admissions test.
Even Nilkhet has to take a break during Eid, the city's most joyous festival. But the market is open all day during the celebrations, with its vendors tempting anybody looking for a break from the mayhem nearby.
That is, there is no escape from the never-ending quest for knowledge. Nilkhet, an oasis of light in an otherwise miserable city, keeps vibrating with life.
The story of Nilkhet struggles with dreams and responsibility where there is no space for rest. Both are on a relentless journey. Take a minute to enjoy the charm of Nilkhet the next time you find yourself roaming its convoluted alleyways. Here, in the heart of the restless city, everything is conceivable.