Underground Meets in Dhaka: An Uncharted Part of Urban Culture

To most people, cars are a medium to go from point A to point B. To some people, however, these mechanical wonders constitute an entire lifestyle, and underground car meets here in Dhaka are something that really shows what this culture is all about.

               As an automobile enthusiast myself, I have been following a lot of car meet or car show events all over Dhaka. But in my opinion, the most fascinating ones are those hosted by the automobile enthusiast group called Auto Rebellion. They are famed for hosting underground car meets in the basement parking area of Jamuna Future Park, which are basically meet-and-greet for automobile enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds.

i. Everyone present at the underground meet is united by their passion for automobiles

The picture above is from Auto Rebellion Underground 2023. I took it during the peak hours of the show, and it really demonstrates how eager the community is for such events. Besides, it’s an annual event, so everyone in this community really looks forward to it every year!

               In these events, owners of tuned cars get to showcase their rides that they meticulously build and prepare for such shows (they also do get you from point A to point B and a lot faster too). Car owners arrive at the event and park their cars in designated zones organized by the Auto Rebellion team to separate and classify the car types based on different specifications of the cars. Next, those who are visiting the show come around and meet each other, talk about the cars present and regarding issues that they may have faced (which are almost always relatable to the owners of cars that are of similar make and model).

ii. One very common joke (fact?) about cars like Subaru is that they have an issue of getting the head gasket blown off a lot

Besides, stalls are set up by aftermarket brands to display and sell their products. Some brands also help to set up the event by sponsoring. These car meets also become a hub for marketing different products in this way. Many new brands are introduced to the community through these events as well.

               The most exciting part of such meets are the stunt performances. Participants show off their car handling expertise by performing controlled burnouts, donuts, and drifts. All of these occur in a safe and controlled environment and only experienced drivers are allowed to perform these stunts.

               Sometimes, live music shows are also arranged for the visitors. In Auto Rebellion Underground 2023, there was a really cool live hip-hop performance. 

iii. Exotic cars like these can be seen at the event which are otherwise a very rare sight in the public streets of Dhaka

I try to attend these meets every year as I get to learn a lot from those who are more experienced working with cars. Moreover, these events give me a chance to capture very interesting photos of rare and highly tuned cars and also record the visually appealing stunts performed by expert drivers.

               I don’t have my own car just yet but that doesn’t stop me from becoming a part of this amazing community. What binds this group of people together is their love for cars and everything else related to cars. If you would like to, you can check out this spectacular hidden gem of Dhaka’s urban culture and then you will find yourself among the most fascinating bunch of people in the city.