Bhuter Goli: An area where people live not ghosts

Have you ever heard the name of “Bhuter Goli” (ভুতের গলি)? It is the name of an area in Dhaka city. If we translate the name into English then it becomes “Ghost’s Lane”. I know this meaning will make anyone frightened. You may think that this particular area is resided by a number of ghosts of different types. But the interesting thing is that the original name of this area is not at all “Bhuter Goli”. It was supposed to be “Boot Er Goli” (বুটের গলি). It is thought that a certain British man named Mr. Boots used to live in that alley. That is why, this area became popularly known as “Boots shaheber goli” (Mr. Boots’ lane). Later, it was incorrectly pronounced and spelt as Bhuter Goli.

There is another story about the naming of this area. It is said that there was a factory of boot shoe in that lane. For this reason, it became known as “Boot er goli” (lane where boot shoe factory is located). Later, it was mispronounced and misspelt as Bhuter Goli.

Like Bhuter Goli, we can find similar type of story about Gendaria also. Once it was an area of elite class people. That is why, it became known as “Grand Area”, which was later changed to Gendaria.