Bailey Road, Dhaka
Bailey Road is a well-known thoroughfare in Ramna, Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
Native name | বেইলি রোড ( Ramna, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
---|---|
Postal code | 1217 |
West end | Hare Road, opposite to Ramna Park |
Major junctions | Shantinagar |
East end | Bir Uttam Shamsul Alam Road |
Other | |
Known for | Educational institutions, government offices and hostels, shopping and eateries |
It is a classic road in Dhaka which runs through Shiddheswari, connecting Hare Road with Shantinagar junction. It is regarded as one of the busiest areas of the city, constructed during the colonial era, now serving both as a residential area for civil servants, high court judges as well as government offices and shopping malls and food courts. The Bailey Road is considered as two distinct roads, one after another, they are the new Bailey Road and the Bailey Road. The new Bailey Road is well recognised for its famous theatres, numerous boutiques, shops, schools, fast foods, restaurants and various hangout places. The old Bailey Road is reputable because of the officers club, Foreign Service academy and homes of ministers, officers and government officials. Bailey Road was featured in a song of the same name by Ayub Bachchu, lead singer of the popular rock band LRB. Bailey Road was officially renamed Natok Soroni (Theater Street), in recognition of the road's contributions to performing arts in the capital.[1]
History
Ramna was a forest-like area during British rule. Initially, Charles Dos, the
Bailey Road was named in honour of
Theater Street
Bailey Road has been centre of theatre practices as well as theatre performers. The stage productions of Dhaka's major drama companies are usually performed in Bailey Road. Over the years, its theatres have played host to some of the country's best actors and actresses. The two major theatres on the road that regularly host local and international theatre performances are:
Guide House Auditorium
The Guide House was established in 1964 as the headquarters of the East Pakistan Branch of the
Mahila Samity auditorium
Mahila Samity auditorium is a centre for stage productions, located in the building of the Bangladesh Mahila Samiti.[5] Closed for renovations in 2011, it reopened in 2016.[6][7]
Shopping and eateries
The street is also popular among Dhaka's residents for its quality bookshops, clothing boutiques (i.e. the Jamdani sari stores), and fast food shops.
Eateries
Bailey Road played an important role in popularising fast food culture in Dhaka in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Fast food shops such as Swiss and Euro Hut featured burgers, fries, fried chicken, etc. in their menus – at the time a novelty in Bangladesh. These eateries gained great popularity among urban youth, triggering later waves of fast-food retail across the entire city. The area now features fast food shops Palki, Bailey Garden Restaurant, Bamboo Castle, Oasis, New Dahlia's, Chicken King, La Vista, Hot Cake, Euro Hut, Golpea Burger, Golden Food, Boomers, Sausage, Bamboo Castle, Al-Baik, Sub zero, Euro-Hut,
Shopping centres and Boutiques
Bailey Road is a prominent place for shopping. Traditional and local sarees and dresses are sold there. Major boutiques on Bailey Road include the handloom sari shops, like Tangali Sari Kutir and Jamdani Sari Kutir. Sarees such as jamdani, katan, muslin, cotton, and tangali are vastly sold each day. Bailey Road is that there are several shopping malls such as Bailey Star. Also, it has numerous brand stores like Celebration, Pride, Fit Elegance, Lubnan, Richman, Rex, Ecstasy, Moods, Shada Kalo, and many more. In 2006, Khaleda Zia, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, made gift of silk Jamdani saris from the former to Gursharan Kaur, wife of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Sonia Gandhi, chief of ruling Indian National Congress.[8]
Education
Bailey Road is within reaching distance of many academic institutions. Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Siddeshwari Girls' High School and Shiddheswari Girls' College are situated on this road.
Officers' Club
Foreign Service Academy
Foreign Service Academy is a training institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadres. Formerly known as the Foreign Affairs Training Institute, it was merged with Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy in 1987. The Academy was inaugurated on 1 January 1997, and temporarily housed at the State guest house 'Sugandha'.[9]
Residence of officials and ministers
Many government officials, officers and ministers reside in Bailey Road. The ancient homes called 'lal bari' are placed there, where the ministers live.
References
- ^ "Bailey Road renamed Natok Saroni". The Daily Star. bdnews. 27 August 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2006.
- ^ Dhaka Smrti Bismriti Nagar, [1st khandha], Muntasirul Mamoon, 2nd edition, 218–226, retrieved: April 2010.
- ^ Bangladesh.com, Bangladesh channel, Bangladesh.com 20100. Web: 20 April 2011
- ^ Sanwar Rahman, Avik (10 November 2003). "Guide House to wear a new look". The Daily Star. Retrieved 25 December 2006.
- ^ John, Zillur Rahman (2012). "Theatre Stage". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ Mahmud, Jamil (6 September 2010). "Mahila Samiti's new building to have two auditoriums". The Daily Star.
- ^ "Mahila Samity reopens with month-long fest". New Age. Dhaka. 26 February 2016.
- ^ "Khaleda's gifts for Manmohan's wife, Sonia". The Daily Star. 19 March 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2006.
- ^ Golam Mustakim (2012). "Foreign Service Academy". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
Further reading
- Muntasir Mamun (2010). Dhaka: Sriti Bisritir Nogori.