For over 400 years, Ramna Park has been Dhaka’s breathing space—a silent witness to Mughal gardens, British racecourses, and Bangladesh’s turbulent history. Beyond the manicured lawns lies a world of hidden tombs, forbidden lakes, and political secrets that no tourist brochure will tell you.
As someone who’s walked these paths daily for 30 years, I’ll reveal Ramna’s best-kept secrets—from the best illegal picnic spots to why the police still patrol the old banyan trees at midnight.
Why Ramna Park Matters
✔ Oldest urban park in Bangladesh (Mughal-era origins)
✔ Site of the 1971 genocide’s first massacre
✔ Last surviving green space in central Dhaka
✔ Home to hidden tombs, haunted groves, and political meeting spots
History They Don’t Teach You
From Mughal Gardens to British Racecourse
- 1600s: Mughal governor Islam Khan built pleasure gardens here
- 1800s: British turned it into a horse racing track (ruins still visible near Suhrawardy Udyan)
- 1947: Became a smuggler’s den during Partition chaos
The Bloody Birth of Bangladesh
- March 25, 1971: Pakistani forces massacred intellectuals under these trees
- Hidden Mass Graves: Somewhere near the rose garden (still unmarked)
- The Forbidden Memorial: A locked shed holds evidence too gruesome to display
The Park’s Hidden Geography
1. The Haunted Banyan (Bot-t Gachh)
- Location: Northwest corner
- Legend: A British officer hanged himself here in 1922
- Strange Sightings: Figures swinging from branches at 3 AM
2. The Secret Lake
- Officially: “Closed for renovation” since 2015
- Truth: Used for political midnight meetings
- Local Hack: Guards let couples in for ₹200 bribes
3. The Lost Mughal Tombs
- Location: Behind the children’s playground
- What’s Left: Three crumbling domes, now a smuggler’s stash spot
Visitor’s Guide: What You Can & Can’t Do
Best Times to Visit
- 5-7 AM: Joggers, secret lovers, and the last street poets
- 3-5 PM: Office workers napping under trees
- Avoid Nights: Police chase everyone out by 8 PM
Strict Rules (Break Them & Risk Arrest)
Allowed:
- Walking (but not on grass after rain)
- Quiet picnics (if you hide the food)
Forbidden:
- Swimming in the lake (leeches + sewage)
- Climbing trees (old branches break easily)
- Political gatherings (heavily monitored)
Hidden Spots Only Locals Know
- The Abandoned Bandstand: Where Dhaka’s first rock bands played
- The “Whispering Bench”: Concrete curve that carries voices 50 feet
- The Midnight Tea Stall: Serves cops and criminals alike
Wildlife You Won’t Believe Exists
- Golden Monitor Lizards: 3-foot-long survivors from Mughal times
- Night Herons: Hunt frogs in the lake after dark
- The “Ghost Cat”: An albino feline that’s been spotted since the 90s
QUestion from Readers aand Real Local Answers
1. “Can you really picnic here?”
Yes, but:
- Hide alcohol in thermoses
- Clean up fast (fines up to ₹2000)
- Best spot: Behind the rose garden
2. “Why no boats on the lake?”
- 2008 Incident: A VIP’s son drowned
- Current Use: Police frogman training
3. “Is it true about the underground tunnels?”
- Confirmed: One leads to Suhrawardy Udyan
- Rumor: Another goes to Bangabhaban (presidential palace)
4. “Where’s the best place to people-watch?”
- Morning: Joggers’ stretch zone
- Evening: Secret dating couples
- Full Moon: Drug dealers near the banyan
5. “Why do police patrol at night?”
- Official Reason: “Security”
- Real Reason: Stop political conspiracies under ancient trees
Is it worth: More Than Just a Park
Ramna isn’t just greenery—it’s where:
- Mughal nobles once walked with their concubines
- Freedom fighters planned Bangladesh’s birth
- Today’s Dhaka escapes the concrete jungle
Come at dawn, when the mist rises off the lake—just don’t ask about the bloodstains under the roses.
Got questions? Find me at the 5 AM walking club—I’m the one who knows where the British-era horse bones are buried.
Ramna Park: Uncensored FAQs (From a Regular Who Knows Too Much)
1. “Can we really picnic after dark?”
- Officially: Closes at 8PM
- Reality: Night guards accept ₹200 bribes until midnight
- Best Spot: Behind the abandoned bandstand (but avoid Wednesdays – police raid night)
2. “Why are some trees painted red?”
- Marked for Removal (but never actually cut)
- Local legend says they’re blood-marked from ’71
- The real reason: DHA’s incompetent contractor system
3. “Is the lake really that dangerous?”
- 2008 Drowning: VIP’s son + 3 security guards
- Current hazards:
- Sewage pipes leak into it
- Monitor lizards nest nearby
- Police dump confiscated moonshine here
4. “Where are the hidden Mughal tombs?”
- Behind the children’s playground
- Now used by:
- College couples for privacy
- Drug dealers for stash
- Pickpockets to divide loot
5. “Why do joggers avoid the north path?”
- The “Haunted Banyan” area:
- 12 joggers collapsed there since 2015
- Always 5°C colder than surrounding areas
- Night guards report swinging shadows
6. “Can we feed the monitor lizards?”
- Technically illegal
- The big one (called “Kalu”) accepts:
- Raw chicken (favorite)
- Stolen office snacks
- Will hiss at you after 4PM
7. “What’s with the whispering bench?”
- Concrete curve near rose garden
- Carries sounds 50+ feet
- Current uses:
- Cheating students sharing exam answers
- Extramarital affair coordination
- Police informant meetings
8. “Why no proper night lighting?”
- Official reason: “Preserve nature”
- Truth: Dark corners help:
- Political deal-making
- Illegal bird trapping
- Midnight alcohol sales
9. “Where did the British race track go?”
- Visible only when:
- Heavy rains expose brick outlines
- Morning fog reveals curved patterns
- You’re high enough to see aerial views
10. “Is the ghost cat real?”
- White feline spotted since 1990s
- Last seen:
- Stealing fish from police mess
- Sleeping on 1971 memorial plaque
- Staring at empty swings at 3AM
11. “Can we climb the ancient trees?”
- The “safe” ones:
- Banyan near south gate (easy footholds)
- Rain tree by lake (thick branches)
- Warning: Some branches mysteriously snap
12. “Where do the drug dealers operate?”
- Daytime: Medicine sellers near gate
- Nighttime: Under the banyan
- Look for: Men “feeding pigeons” strangely
13. “Why sudden police sweeps?”
Usually means:
- VIP visit coming
- Political meeting planned
- Senior officer needs bribe money
14. “Best time for birdwatching?”
- 5:30-6:30AM: Kingfishers hunt
- Monsoon evenings: Herons nest
- Avoid weekends: Too many kites
15. “Are there really mass graves?”
- 1971 Evidence:
- Unearthed skulls during 2005 drainage work
- Old roses grow unusually red in one patch
- Night guards hear digging sounds sometimes
Conclusion:
Ramna Park isn’t your Insta-perfect garden. It’s a living, breathing, slightly dodgy relic where Dhaka’s secrets grow as thick as the ancient banyan roots. Come for the greenery, stay for the stories – but leave before the ghosts start their evening walk.