is the
capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It lies near the
geographic center of the country, on the Buriganga River.
The city proper covers an area of about 60 sq mi (about
154 sq km); the metropolitan area covers about 565 sq mi
(about 1,463 sq km). The population of the city is about
6.7 million; that of the metropolitan area is about 12.3
million.
Government
The City of Dhakka is governed by a city corporation, with day-to-day executive power vested in and exercised by a Mayor, who is elected by popular vote every five years. The incorporated area is divided into several wards, each of which has an elected commissioner.
Economy
Principal industries of Dhakka include textiles (jute, muslin and cotton), food processing (especially rice), and the manufacture of various consumer goods. Many international banking, finance, telecommunications, and services corporations have facilities in and around the city.
Higher Education
Dhakka is home to Dhaka College, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Bangladesh (founded in 1840), as well as the University of Dhaka (1921). Other major institutions of higher learning in the city include Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Sir Salimullah Medical College.
History
The city now known as Dhaka was founded as the capital of the Province of Islam Khan Chisti (Bengal) during the reign of Mughal Emperor Zahangir, who called it Zahangirnagor, in 1608. It remained under Mughal control until 1704. In 1765, the city came under the control of the British East India Company, which renamed it Dacca.
In 1905, the city became the capital of a new province comprising East Bengal and Assam. Upon the partition of India in 1947, it became the provincial capital of East Pakistan. It became the capital of Bangladesh upon its independence from Pakistan in 1971. The spelling of the city's name was changed to Dhaka in 1982.
Sites and Attractions
Bahadur Shah Park was built to commemorate the martyrs of the first war of independence, 1857-1859. It is said that revolting sepoys and their civil compatriots were publicly hanged here.
Bangabandhu Memorial Museum was once the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Bangladesh. Today it contains a rare collection of personal effects and photographs of his lifetime.
The Central Shahid
Minar (Monument of Bangladesh Nationalism)
commemorates the martyrs of the Language Movement of
1952; all subsequent movements for Bangladesh
independence owe their origin to this movement.
The Jatiyo Shogshod (National Parliament) was designed by the noted American architect Louis Khan.
Jatyo Sritee Shoudhow (National Memorial), located in the suburb of Savar; commemorates the many unknown martyrs of the first war of independence (1857).
Lalbagh
Fort was begun in 1678 by Prince Azam,
third son of the last Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb.
Construction continued under his son Nawab Shaista Khan,
but was suspended upon the death of his favorite
daughter, Bibi Pari. During the Sepoy Rebellion of
1857, the fort was the site of a bloody battle between
260 Sepoys backed by civilians and British forces.
Attractions inside the fort's walls include the mausoleum
of Bibi Pari and a museum.
The National Museum contains
sculptures and paintings from the Hindu, Buddhist and
Muslim periods; inscriptions of Quran in Arabic and
Persian letters; Bengali works in Arabic script; and many
other national treasures.
Suhrawardy Uddyan, formerly known as the Race Course, was where the oath for independence of Bangladesh was taken on March 7, 1971. It is also where the commander of occupation forces surrendered to Bangladesh, on December 16, 1971.
Tara Masjid (Star Mosque) gets its name from a glittering mosaic of broken china. The mosque was originally built in the 18th century; the mosaic was added later by a zealous and pious businessman.
Questions or comments about this page?
Dhaka City Corporation. www.dhakacity.org
Virtual Bangladesh. www.virtualbangladesh/bd_cities_dhaka.html
THE ROBINSON LIBRARY
History: General and Old World.--Asia.--Bangladesh.
East Pakistan.
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