DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 20 (IPS) – My Name is Dhaka is a one-minute experimental film that portrays Dhaka as a living, breathing entity with 400 years of history. Through a reflective voice, the city recalls its transformations, crises and resilience. It reflects the contrasts between pollution and celebration, hardship and hope, revealing a megacity shaped by climate change, migration and human survival.
My name is Dhaka. I am more than 400 years old. I have seen the rise and fall of empires, from Mughal glory to colonial rule, from independence to today. Now I carry about 36 million people inside me. I have grown into a megacity.
I’m also in one of the world’s climate hotspots. My rivers swell, my heat rises, and my air grows heavier each year. I often rank among the most polluted cities in the world.
I remember the silence of the coronavirus pandemic when my streets suddenly became empty. I remember the fear and chaos of bus bomb blasts during the political unrest of 2013-14. And I remember the fall of the fascist regime in 2024.
But I am not the only city in trouble. I am a city of contradictions. I have stories of child labor and deep social injustice, where many struggle to survive. Also, I celebrate life, my streets are filled with colors during Holi, and my people find happiness even in hardship.
