According to eyewitness Imran, while crossing the airport road, as he was about to enter Jasimuddin Avenue, he saw a lady wearing a white shari in the middle of the road.

Suddenly, Imran said, the lady started speeding towards him at breakneck speed, forcing him to brake seconds before impact. As he looked at the car, he was stunned to find that the lady had disappeared into thin air.

This is just one of many stories of encounters with the “Ghost Lady of Airport Road,” a spirit reported repeatedly by drivers and passersby over the years. Just like the ghost lady, residents of Dhaka have witnessed countless paranormal stories of recurring “ghosts” in some of the city’s most infamous locations.

This Halloween, we sought out people and witnesses who could testify to these “ghost stories,” trying to understand how these urban legends became as much a part of Dhaka’s cultural identity as its strange folklore.

Another account of the ghost lady is that of Mehrab, who posted a comment on a Facebook post that his friend saw the ghost when they were all crossing this road in the late 90s. When his friend did didn’t stop the car, his tire mysteriously blew out.

However, according to some claims, not everyone who comes into contact with this haunting character is lucky enough to make it out alive.

Shamim, an eyewitness who reportedly survived a harrowing experience, took to social media to claim that he and his friend encountered the lady ghost while traveling on their bikes at night.

“A woman in a white shari suddenly appeared on the road, causing my friend to brake hard. Unfortunately, he was unable to avoid the collision. He did not succeed.”

Over the years, many accidents have taken place near the airport road, attributed to the interference of the so-called ghost woman.

Folklore goes like this: a woman and her child were brutally killed in a car accident on this very road many years ago. Since then, the woman’s ghost has returned to take revenge on motorists for the death of her child.

Maybe people share and believe in these urban legends to bring them to life and the dead can speak for the living. Although we cannot say conclusively what each of these legends is trying to convey, it would be wise not to dismiss them, but rather to try to understand why they arise and what they say about our society.

Although no evidence has been provided or personal accounts substantiated, the myth surrounding the ghost persists.

There are many other places in Dhaka that have gained a reputation for being haunted by the supernatural.

Dhaka Haunted Houses

There is a specific building in Dhanmondi 27, where it is said that once a woman committed suicide and her spirit now haunts this apartment. His floor has become infamous for causing flickering lights and instilling a feeling of dread in anyone attempting to enter his apartment.

One of the most infamous cases is that of Pori Bibi, the spirit of the daughter of the Subedar of Mughal Bengal, Shaista Khan, who still haunts the Lalbagh fort. Legend has it that Khan never completed the construction of the fort because Pori Bibi tragically died before the fort could be fully completed. Khan apparently buried his daughter in a mausoleum there.

Pori Bibi’s tomb has since become a historical monument of Dhaka, attracting visitors every day. Over time, she also developed a reputation for being haunted by her spirit, which would roam the fort at night. People have reported feeling watched by a presence, followed, and feeling cold spots.

So, what about these ghosts of Dhaka? Could it be that they are actually real?

Urban legends of Dhaka?

Well, according to Folklore Expedition Bangladesh (FEB) chief researcher Muhaiminul Niloy, these are examples of urban legends.

The term was coined by folklorist Harold Brunvand in the 1980s. He was a prolific writer and said that “lack of verification never diminishes the appeal of legends.”

Every culture in the world has its own urban legends; and it seems we have ours too, although they may be derivatives of other paranormal legends.

For example, “Lady Ghost of Airport Road” is just a local Bengali rendition of the story “White Lady” found in many countries around the world.

Urban legends spread through stories and word of mouth. Their origins are usually vague and attributed to hearsay. But despite the lack of solid evidence, why do these stories continue to gain momentum, even in the Internet age?

Renowned horror film director Nuhash Humayun says Bangladesh has a rich oral tradition of sharing ghost stories that goes back generations. It’s a powerful community experience to share these stories with each other.

Nuhash believes that even as we have modernized, “the desire to share these stories has followed us to this day, as has our sense of fear.”

Reflection of our anxieties

A popular theory is that the stories that shape our urban legends reveal the anxieties and fears of our society.

In a rapidly developing city like Dhaka, changes come quickly and strongly, often before communities have had a chance to adapt to new environments and new ways of life. These rapid changes, such as tearing down old buildings to make way for new ones, or old streets for new highways, can often leave members of a community feeling helpless.

This lack of control and disenfranchisement can create tensions between tradition and modernity which can manifest in ghost stories. This is why primitive places like Lalbagh Fort are often considered haunted, while newer buildings do not carry the same stigma.

“We try to preserve our past or elements of our society. That’s why we pass on these stories without any documentation or proof. It’s like a Wikipedia article in our heads. It reminds us of simpler times,” says Nuhash .

Old buildings threatened with demolition are also more often incubators for ghost stories, as they can be seen as relics of a bygone era.

“It is our fear of the unknown that attracts us to these legends,” says Muhaiminul, who works at Folklore Expedition Bangladesh (FEB).

These anxieties can also take the form of warnings of dangers. With road safety being a constant concern, it makes cultural sense that one of the most popular urban legends is built around road accidents. The “white lady” can remind us of the dangers of the highway.

Voices of the voiceless

The fact that so many of our popular urban legends revolve around women who were allegedly wronged in one way or another subconsciously reveals how our society treats women.

Indeed, there is a common thread in many urban legends that surround Dhaka. Pori Bibi, the ghost who haunts the house of Dhanmondi 27, and the white lady are all women.

In Bangladesh’s highly gendered and patriarchal society, women are often discriminated against, deprived of their rights and subjected to gender-based violence. As a result, the urban legends that form in our country often reflect cultural feelings regarding the role and treatment of women in society.

Muhaiminul highlights this aspect: “Historically, our society has oppressed women, and this oppression still persists today. The prevalence of female ghosts – often depicted as widows or tragic figures who have committed suicide and are now seeking revenge – can be seen as a conduit for these meaningful stories to emerge. »

Nuhash concludes that the female form has always been linked to urban legends and ghost stories in our country. He cites ghosts from traditional folklore such as “Petni” and “Shakchunni” as other examples of this rich cultural tradition of ghost stories surrounding women.

These women, who were wronged in their lives, now return as ghosts to seek justice or revenge in death.

Perhaps people share and believe in these urban legends to bring them to life and the dead can speak for the living.

Although we cannot say conclusively what each of these legends is trying to convey, it would be wise not to dismiss them, but rather to try to understand why they arise and what they say about our society.

One thing is certain: our ghosts speak to us. But will we listen?

5 Most Haunted Places in Dhaka

1. Dhaka Airport Road – Many stories have spoken about the famous “Lady Ghost of Airport Road”, which appears and disappears on the long stretch of road, causing drivers and passers-by to lose concentration and leading to accidents. You can recognize her by her iconic white saree.

2. Lalbagh Fort – The famous tourist attraction is said to house the mausoleum of Pori Bibi, who died tragically during the Mughal era. His grave is said to be haunted by his spirit. You can recognize its presence by the feeling of being followed or observed, as well as by feeling the temperature drop.

3. Dhanmondi 27- In an apartment at 27 Dhanmondi, near “Bar BQ Tonite”, one floor remains dark and empty since the former resident committed suicide. Flickering lights and a feeling of dread overwhelm anyone who attempts to enter his apartment.

4. Golf Heights Building – Near Banani Cemetery, people have heard children crying when passing through this building.

5. Botanical Garden – According to rumors and second-hand accounts, a woman haunts the Mirpur Botanical Garden. It can appear when night falls. Considered dangerous, this apparition can be recognized by its appearance as it floats a few inches above the ground.