Walking into the National Botanical Garden of Bangladesh is like walking into a time warp. The ever-present sounds of the city fall away, replaced with a quaint instrumental music that plays from speakers at the entrance. 

As the recorded music faded, live music take its place. A trio of students in their 20s sing and play guitar in a little concrete amphitheater next to one of the ponds. 

Nestled next to the Dhaka Zoo in the Mirpur district of the city, the garden comprises acres of foliage, trees and flowers stretch on, with worn dirt paths guiding the way. The landscape is dotted with ponds and many seating areas for couples and groups to stop and rest their feet. Stray dogs play with each other in the trees and jackfruit hangs low. 

The garden feels like a world away from the heart of the city. The city of Dhaka is boisterous and incredibly congested with traffic, the sounds of car horns blaring and wheels screeching and vendors hawking their wares. 

Dhaka is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world, and very few places offer any refuge from the bustle of the streets. Like the city’s green spaces, the garden is one of those places. 

Dhaka has had an exceptionally hot summer, but May 18 offered a slightly more comfortable respite. The break in the weather led Arohi Islam, a 22-year-old Bangladeshi musician to the park. She spent the afternoon with two of her friends singing and playing guitar near the front of the garden, serenading visitors as they walked by. 

Islam said she likes to visit the gardens often, but not in the extreme heat, so she hasn’t visited much during the current heat wave. She suffers from allergies, but today in the garden, the heat isn’t bothering her. She continues singing throughout the afternoon.

Islam is preparing to study at a university next year, and is “just starting” the music thing for fun with her friends. They like to come to play music in nature, just to “vibe,” Islam said. 

The garden boasts more than 56,000 species of plants. Also known as the Bangladesh National Herbarium, the garden is a research center, and attracts tourists and locals to enjoy the scenery. It also attracts many migratory birds. 

“The nature is very beautiful here,” she said. 

Audio by Hailey Smalley