The Vanishing Residents of Old Dhaka

Monkeys of Old Dhaka are disappearing as ongoing urbanization is slowly destroying their habitats. Once symbols of Dhaka’s heritage, they now fight for survival in the packed city. In the congested neighborhoods of Shyambazar and Wari, a few monkeys still cling to survival, darting across rooftops and dangling from electric wires in search of food. Once abundant across Old Dhaka, these monkeys have witnessed the city’s transformation from tree-lined courtyards and open spaces into a dense urban maze of concrete and steel. Their presence, once ordinary, has now become a rare and almost ghostly reminder of Dhaka’s past.

Decades ago, Old Dhaka was full of greenery. Trees shaded homes, courtyards were alive with fruit-bearing plants, and open spaces allowed wildlife to thrive in harmony with humans. Today, that harmony has all but disappeared. The monkeys who remain are not intruders by choice but survivors forced into a human-dominated landscape that has stripped away their natural habitat.

How Habitat Loss Reshaped Their Lives

The decline of these monkeys is a direct result of unchecked urbanization. In Shyambazar, where monkeys once had abundant access to fruit trees and shaded gardens, their food sources have been replaced with high-rise buildings, narrow lanes, and crowded marketplaces. The situation in Wari mirrors the same reality, with monkeys now relying on climbing electric poles and scavenging around markets instead of moving freely among trees.

Monkeys are balancing on wires, perching on walls, or grabbing cucumbers from vendors. The natural behavior of these animals has been replaced with frantic adaptation to survive in a city that has little space left for them.

The Daily Struggle for Food and Survival

With their forests gone, the Monkeys of Old Dhaka are now entirely dependent on humans for sustenance. Their diet consists mainly of snacks like bananas, cucumbers, and even packets of chips stolen from shops or handed out by sympathetic residents. On one hand, this interaction shows the long history of coexistence between humans and monkeys. On the other, it reveals a dangerous dependence that puts both sides at risk.

Shopkeepers in Shyambazar often chase monkeys away, frustrated by the constant theft of their goods. The monkeys, meanwhile, are left with few alternatives. Human food lacks the nutrition they need, leaving them vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. Daily life is filled with risks — from being hit by speeding vehicles to being electrocuted while clambering across tangled wires. Their survival hangs by a thread, reliant on a city that increasingly sees them as pests rather than neighbors.

A Cultural Link to Dhaka’s Past

Despite their dwindling numbers, these monkeys remain an important part of Dhaka’s cultural memory. For generations, they were woven into the everyday rhythm of Old Dhaka life. Children grew up watching them dart across courtyards, families shared stories of monkeys stealing mangoes from verandas, and residents accepted them as part of the city’s unique identity.

Now, as their numbers decline, these monkeys have become living symbols of the past. They connect today’s residents with an older, greener Dhaka — one that balanced human expansion with the natural world. If they vanish completely, it will not only mark the loss of a species in the city but also the erasure of a cultural thread that has tied communities to their surroundings for centuries.

Shyambazar and Wari: Last Strongholds of Survival

The neighborhoods of Shyambazar and Wari stand as the final refuges of Old Dhaka’s monkey population. In Shyambazar, monkeys still leap from shop to shop, scavenging for scraps while dodging shopkeepers’ sticks. In Wari, the sight of monkeys scavenging in markets has become both a curiosity and a concern for residents. These once-thriving populations are now reduced to small, scattered groups struggling for survival.

The persistence of these monkeys in these areas is both remarkable and tragic. They symbolize resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, yet their presence also highlights the city’s failure to preserve its ecological balance.

Why Their Decline Matters for Dhaka

The fading presence of Monkeys of Old Dhaka is not just about the disappearance of an animal. It reflects broader issues facing Bangladesh’s capital. Their decline signals a deep loss of biodiversity in one of the world’s most densely populated cities. It also underscores the cultural erosion of traditions and everyday encounters that shaped Dhaka’s heritage.

The conflict between monkeys and humans reveals the challenges of urban planning that ignores ecology. Traffic accidents, food theft, and aggressive encounters reflect not just animal desperation but also human frustration with unplanned coexistence. Their disappearance would also rob Dhaka of moments of connection with nature, small but vital for mental relief in a city dominated by chaos and congestion.

Towards Coexistence: Finding Solutions

While the outlook may seem bleak, Dhaka still has the opportunity to save its remaining monkeys if proactive measures are taken. Restoring greenery in Old Dhaka, whether through community tree planting, rooftop gardens, or protected courtyards, could begin to create small but crucial habitats. Designated feeding zones with proper nutrition could reduce conflict while supporting their survival.

Equally important is community awareness. Residents need to understand that monkeys are not intruders but displaced creatures forced into survival mode. By discouraging harmful practices and embracing humane coexistence, people can reduce conflict and build compassion.

Urban planners also have a role to play. Considering wildlife corridors, preserving pockets of greenery, and integrating biodiversity into redevelopment projects can prevent further erasure of Old Dhaka’s ecological heritage. Wildlife protection authorities could step in to monitor populations, relocate at-risk groups, and ensure that this fading population is not entirely lost.

Monkeys of Old Dhaka are not trespassers in urban sprawl — they are survivors of a city that has outgrown them. Their presence tells a story of rapid urbanization, ecological neglect, and the consequences of unchecked development. Yet they also carry the memory of Dhaka, reminding its residents of a time when humans and wildlife lived side by side.

If Dhaka allows its monkeys to disappear, it will lose more than just animals. It will lose a vital link to its cultural identity and ecological balance. Protecting them is not merely about conservation; it is about safeguarding the memory, heritage, and soul of Old Dhaka.