The slums
As our bus departed the chaotic city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the traffic whizzing past resembled a real life simulation of GTA. We were headed to a drastically different scene. We would soon be entering the tide country, a land filled of villages inundated by tides, along the Rupsha River. I couldn’t believe we were already done with the first portion of our trip. We were … Continue reading The slums
Safe sanitation remains an issue for many in Bangladesh
Among the narrow alleyways and wall-to-wall houses of Notun Bazar, two buildings stand out. The blue walls beam through the grayscale of southwest Bangladesh’s largest slum, and the concrete floor is invitingly smooth and unblemished. Signs proclaim both buildings newly renovated and detail the cost – about 800 U.S. dollars. Despite their flamboyant exteriors, the inside of each building is sparse, with only a single … Continue reading Safe sanitation remains an issue for many in Bangladesh
Something fishy: A peek into the climate effects on Dhaka’s biggest fish market
Blue and green lights illuminated the early morning fog as vendors balanced wicker baskets brimming with fish and fruit atop their heads. They laid out arrays of cucumbers and squash under the tinted bulbs and waited for the buyers to swarm. In the distance, chickens sang and fish flew as they were thrown into tubs anticipating their slaughter. While the rest of the city slept, … Continue reading Something fishy: A peek into the climate effects on Dhaka’s biggest fish market
Anchored Safely
The MJA Bangledesh team is anchored safely just outside the city of Khulna, safe from the large cyclone that has formed over the Bay of Bengal. Here’s a snapshot of their most recent trek: Continue reading Anchored Safely
Dhaka University
The morning started as usual in Dhaka. I sipped from a small glass of milk tea from a local stand while a gaggle of stray dogs ran in front of me. As I wove my way through Dhaka University’s campus for the first time, I marveled at its beauty and uniqueness. The courtyard where I had drank my tea and where Rafia, one of our … Continue reading Dhaka University
Off Grid in the Sundarbans
UM Journalism Abroad students are off the grid touring the Sundarbans in Southern Bangladesh. They’ll update stories when they are able but for now you can track their progress here. Below is their most recent trek. Continue reading Off Grid in the Sundarbans
Afternoon at the botanical garden
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 … Continue reading Afternoon at the botanical garden
Fish market
You know you’re close when you can smell it. Fish. The aptly named Karwan Fish Market is the largest of its kind in Bangladesh. Thousands of vendors from across the country travel to the capital city of Dhaka to sell their products in bulk. Despite its name, the market doesn’t just sell fish; it sells almost every consumable vegetable or meat you can find in … Continue reading Fish market
Working between water and steel
The Buriganga River flows through southwestern Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, with traffic not too much different than the rest of the city. Small wooden porter boats dodge hulking barges and foghorns blare as children swim off concrete banks. The waters are dark and murky, and the city’s trash washes up on its beaches. The Keraniganj area of the river is dotted by shipyards, squeezed … Continue reading Working between water and steel
Feeling it like it is
In preparing for this trip to Dhaka, our professor Nadia White told us all to “tell it like it is.” We would not be sugarcoating anything, or glazing over the important details. Our reporting would be focused on climate change, specifically related to loss and damages. We were asked to research and prepare to report on a related issue in Bangladesh, where we would “tell … Continue reading Feeling it like it is
UM to Bangladesh 