Plastered with signboards
Once upon a time, Dhaka was known as the City of Mosques. Now it can well be known as the “City of Signboards”. They come in all shapes and sizes, black 'n white/coloured, as banners, leaflets, stencils and huge hoardings, costing from a couple of takas to elaborate affairs costing lacs with their own lighting/scaffolding. They do not bother if they are a eye-sore, obstruct view and traffic or a nuisance for those who wish to keep their walls etc clean. Who is there to protest/protect?
They advertise almost anything that you may desire. Coaching centres, educational institutions are the current leaders each extolling the quality of 'education' they impart and close by are hundreds of A-Z Sirs, teaching everything from ABC to Advanced Physics and beyond. Cosmetics, fast food, tuition wanted, house to-let, transport for hire, etc are other favorites.
Then there are the 'helpful' signboards: “Dustbin”, where you can throw your garbage, if not already thrown on your head from the 5th floor, “Bus Stop” where you will never get a bus nor does it stop there, 'No Hawkers” where you can buy your daily vegetables, fruits, etc. The most futile of them all is of course, “No Parking or Reserved Parking or Parking For Loading and others”, where you can park your Gas Guzzling Monstrosities (GGMs) with confidence, where you can see 4-5 cars parked abreast amongst half-a-dozen “No Parking “ signs.
How can I leave out the most hilarious sign of all? A new one on Banani says “Call us if you need help”. It is from the local Cop shop. They must think we are all crazy. At least there is a silver lining The signboard painters and paint companies must be doing a roaring trade.
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