If not, maybe you should find out. “White Gold”, as Swedish NGO the Swallows NGO has termed shrimp from Bangladesh, is one of the nation’s most environmentally threatening products.

This is because the shrimp farms require saline water. In a bid to increase production for the lucrative product, producers have forcibly taken land from poor villagers, according to the ‘Voices from Paikgacha’ short film produced by Gazi Mahtab Hassan and Katrin Aidnell. The film was part of a photo exhibition held earlier this year in Sweden and several other countries. A PDF containing photos from the exhibition is available by clicking here.

Increased demand for shrimp could result in great potential for land destruction, especially with respect to Sundarban, the world’s largest mangrove forest and home of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Because the land is inundated with salt as a result of shrimp farming, the surrounding landscape becomes infertile in a matter of two decades.

The decision of what to eat remains squarely with travellers. But because of this destructive practice, we recommend that travellers avoid eating prawns or shrimps in the country and by doing so, decrease demand for this environmentally harmful product.

~story by Mikey Leung~

Stuck for some restaurant recommendations while living in Dhaka? Here are our top seven recommendations straight from the upcoming guidebook. The following choices were made on ‘value,’ which really means value for money. Price was definitely a consideration but not the deciding factor in this list.

1. Dhaba Hse 100, Rd 11, Block C, Banani; tel: 989 0136; 4/F Rifles Sq, Dhanmondi; MM Ali Road, CDA Ave, Dampara, Chittagong; The author’s personal favourite in Dhaka and Chittagong, squarely for its special phuchkas. The ‘dahi’ (yogurt) variety, which is topped with yogurt and freshly chopped tomatoes, onions and chaat, is healthy, vegetarian and delicious. $$

2. Chaat Street Hse 10, Rd 23, Gulshan 1; tel: 01720 106164; With an open air courtyard and your choice between several restaurants, this is one of Gulshan’s most unique eating venues. You can choose dosas from Chaat Street itself, or choose basic Thai, Indonesian or Mexican meals from one of the other shops surrounding the courtyard. Great value. $$

3. Shad Tehari Ghar 2/4 Block C, Lalmatia; tel: 02 911 8695, 01195 057 002; Still Bangladesh’s best chicken reshmi kebab and a real hidden secret in Dhanmondi area. Also serves tasty chatpoti and garlic naans. $$

4. Koreana Hse 5, Rd 136, Gulshan 1; tel: 882 4044, 989 9827; Beer, soju, barbeque and good prices make this Gulshan’s best Korean restaurant. Definitely a place to make the meat eaters happy. $$$

5. Spaghetti Jazz 2/F Alam Arcade, 43 Gulshan Av (On Rd 91); tel: 882 2062; Authentic Italian cuisine served in comfortable atmosphere. Sizzling steaks and pizza consistently good, albeit up the price scale. Recommended. $$$$

6. Roll Express Café Hse 34, Rd 21, Banani; tel: 01720 100016; Great paratha rolls and a wide range of chaats and phuchka. Reminiscent of Kolkata street snacks but definitely nicer décor. Recommended for lunch and/or snacks. $$

7. Bengal Café Ltd Hse 275/F, Rd 16 (new), Dhanmondi; tel: 812 3115; Great value restaurant attached to the Bengal Gallery. Décor is relaxed and the food not bad. $$

Price codes:
$ – Dirt cheap, with the emphasis on dirt
$$ – Great value for money
$$$ – Nice to try out for a change but too expensive to make it a regular thing
$$$$ – Great for special nights out but definitely upscale