Bengalis arrived in Pakistan in the 1950’s and settled in Old Golimar, Karachi. Their lives were turned upside down when `East Pakistan’ seceded and became Bangladesh in 1971. While many Bengalis returned to their native land, others spread out from ‘Mini Bangladesh’ in Old Golimar and dispersed to different parts of the city. Golimar however retains the official title of Chittagong Colony, with inscriptions in Bengali and shops that are not found elsewhere.
An older generation Bengali, Nana is still a favorite among Bengalis who return home for visits. They buy traditional lungis and gamchas from him. Also, Bengali Para (near Buffer Zone) have kept up the taste of their homeland – from street stalls like `Dhaka to Karachi,’ to those selling typical Bengali dishes.
Despite decades of statelessness, discrimination, and economic hardship, Bengalis continue to nurture their roots, adapting without erasing their heritage. It is a story of identity, migration, memory and what it means to belong in a city where people come from all over the region.