Dhaka
Encyclopedia
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh
and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity
and one of the major cities of South Asia
. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River
, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area
, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city in Bangladesh. It is the 9th largest city in the world and also 28th among the most densely populated cities in the world. Dhaka is known as the City of Mosques and with 400,000 cycle rickshaw
s running on its streets every day, the city is also described as the Rickshaw Capital of the World.
Under Mughal
rule in the 17th century, the city was known as Jahangir Nagar
. It was a provincial capital and a centre of the worldwide muslin
trade. The modern city, however, was developed chiefly under British rule
in the 19th century, and became the second-largest city in Bengal
after Calcutta
(presently Kolkata). After the Partition of Bengal
in 1905, Dhaka became the capital of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam
but lost its status as a provincial capital again after the partition was annulled in 1911. After the partition of India
in 1947, Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan
, and later, in 1971, the capital of an independent Bangladesh. During the intervening period, the city witnessed widespread turmoil; this included many impositions of martial law
, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence, military suppression
, devastation during war, and natural calamities.
Modern Dhaka is the centre of political
, cultural
and economic
life in Bangladesh. Although its urban infrastructure is the most developed in the country, Dhaka suffers from urban problems such as pollution and overpopulation. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen modernisation of transport
, communications and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation, this has reportedly made Dhaka the fastest growing city in the world.
The existence of a settlement in the area that is now Dhaka dates from the 7th century. The city area was ruled by the Buddhist
kingdom of Kamarupa
and the Pala Empire
before passing to the control of the Hindu
Sena dynasty
in the 9th century. The name of the city may have derived after the establishment of the Goddess Dhakeshwari's temple by Ballal Sena
in the 12th century. Dhaka and its surrounding area was identified as Bengalla around that period. The town itself consisted of a few market centres like Lakshmi Bazar, Shankhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar, Patuatuli, Kumartuli, Bania Nagar and Goal Nagar. After the Sena Empire, Dhaka was successively ruled by the Sultanate of Bengal
as well as interruption of governors from the Delhi Sultanate
before being taken over by the Mughals
in 1608. The development of townships and housing has resulted into a significant growth in population came as the city was proclaimed the capital (Rajmahal) of Bengal under Mughal rule in 1608. Mughal subahdar
Islam Khan
was the first administrator of the city. Khan named the town "Jahangir Nagar" (জাহাঙ্গীর নগর; City of Jahangir) in honour of the Mughal emperor Jahangir
, although this name was dropped soon after Jahangir's death. The main expansion of the city took place under Mughal general Shaista Khan
. The city then measured 19 by 13 kilometres (12 by 8 mi), with a population of nearly one million people. British East India Company
in 1765 gained right to collect revenue (Diwani right) and later took over governing in 1793 when Nawab
s of Bengal were forced to abdicate all their authority over Bengal, Bihar
& Orissa
& the city passed on to total British control. The city's population shrank dramatically during this period as the prominence of Calcutta rose, but substantive development and modernisation eventually followed. A modern civic water supply system was introduced in 1874 and electricity supply launched in 1878. The Dhaka Cantonment
was established near the city, serving as a base for British and Bengali soldiers.
During the abortive Partition of Bengal
in 1905, Dhaka was declared to be the capital of the newly established state of East Bengal and Assam, but Bengal was reunited in 1911. Following the Partition of India
in 1947, Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan
. The city witnessed major communal violence following the partition of India. A large proportion of the city's Hindu
population departed for India, while the city received a large influx of Muslims
. As the centre of regional politics, however, Dhaka saw an increasing number of political strikes and incidents of violence. The adoption of Urdu
as the sole official language
of Pakistan led to protest marches involving large crowds. Known as the Bengali Language Movement, the protests resulted in Pakistani police firing which killed a number of peaceful student demonstrators. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Dhaka remained a hotbed of political activity, and the demands for autonomy for the Bengali population gradually gained momentum.
The 1970 Bhola cyclone
devastated much of the region, killing an estimated 500,000 people. More than half the city was flooded and millions of people were marooned. With public anger growing against ethnic discrimination and poor cyclone relief efforts from the central government, Bengali politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
held a nationalist gathering on March 7, 1971 at Ramna Racecourse
. An estimated one million people attended the gathering, leading to the March 26 declaration of Bangladesh's independence. In response, the Pakistan Army
launched Operation Searchlight
, which led to the arrests, torture and killing of thousands of people. After nine months of bloody battle with Indian Army
and Mitra Bahini, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indian Army
on December 16 marking the end of the independence war of Bangladesh. As the nation's capital, Dhaka saw a rapid and massive growth of the city population in the post-independence period, as migrant workers from rural areas across Bangladesh moved to the city. The growth of commerce and industry along with the city's population has created further challenges to services and infrastructure. A real estate boom has followed the expansion of city limits and the development of new settlements such as Uttara
, Mohammadpur
, Bashundhara
, Mirpur
and Motijheel
.
. The city lies on the lower reaches of the Ganges Delta
and covers a total area of 360 square kilometres (139 sq mi). It consists of eight principal thana
s –Lalbagh
, Kotwali, Sutrapur, Ramna, Motijheel
, Paltan
, Dhanmondi
, Mohammadpur
, Tejgaon – and 16 auxiliary thanas – Gulshan
, Mirpur
, Pallabi, Shah Ali, Turaag, Sabujbagh, Dhaka Cantonment
, Demra, Hazaribagh
, Shyampur
, Badda, Kafrul, Kamrangir char, Khilgaon and Uttara. In total the city has 130 wards and 725 mohallas. Dhaka district has an area of 1463.60 square kilometres (565 sq mi); and is bounded by the districts of Gazipur
, Tangail
, Munshiganj
, Rajbari
, Narayanganj
, Manikganj
. Tropical
vegetation and moist soils characterize the land, which is flat and close to sea level. This leaves Dhaka susceptible to flooding during the monsoon
seasons owing to heavy rainfall and cyclone
s.
, Dhaka has a tropical savanna climate
. The city has a distinct monsoonal season
, with an annual average temperature of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) and monthly means varying between 19.5 °C (67 °F) in January and 32 °C (90 °F) in April. Approximately 87% of the annual average rainfall of 2,121 millimeters (83.5 in) occurs between May and October. Increasing air and water pollution emanating from traffic congestion and industrial waste are serious problems affecting public health and the quality of life in the city. Water bodies and wetland
s around Dhaka are facing destruction as these are being filled up to construct multi-storied buildings and other real estate developments. Coupled with pollution, such erosion of natural habitats threatens to destroy much of the regional biodiversity.
" status in 1978. The Dhaka City Corporation
is a self-governing corporation which runs the affairs of the city. The incorporated area is divided into several wards, which have elected commissioners. The mayor
of the city is elected by popular vote every five years, and the post is presently held by Sadeque Hossain Khoka
. The Dhaka Education Board
is responsible for administering all public schools
and most private schools with the exception of English-medium schools and madrassah
s. All madrassahs in Bangladesh are governed by a central board while English-medium schools are under separate educational and governance structures.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police
(DMP) was established in 1976 and has 6,000 personnel in 12 police stations. With the rapid population growth of the city, the force has been raised to 23,000 personnel and the establishment of 33 police station
s has been completed and the creation of another 18 police stations is underway.
The city is divided into 25 (i.e. 2011) parliamentary constituencies. The two main political parties are the Awami League
and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
. Ramna contains the Secretariat, which houses most of the government ministries. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
and the Dhaka High Court
are located in the city. The Bangabhaban
palace has served as the official residence of the Viceroy of India
, the governor
of East Pakistan and presently the President of Bangladesh
. The Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban
, designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn
, houses the unicameral
national parliament. The Baitul Mukarram
, developed with a design resembling the Kaaba
of Mecca
, is the national mosque
. Other historical monuments in the city include the Bara Katra
palace, the Lalbagh Fort, the Hoseni Dalan
and the Ahsan Manzil
.
To fight rising traffic congestion
and population, the national government has recently implemented a policy for rapid urbanization
of surrounding areas and beyond by the introduction of a ten year holiday on income tax
for new construction of facilities and buildings outside Dhaka.
Aside from Chittagong
, Dhaka has a water-borne sewage system, but this serves only 25% of the population while another 30% are served with septic tank
s. Only two-thirds of households in Dhaka are served by the city water supply system. More than 9.7 million tons of solid wastes are produced in Dhaka city each year. While private and government efforts have succeeded in collecting refuse city-wide and using it as manure
, most solid wastes are often dumped untreated in nearby low-lying areas and water bodies.
Dhaka is the commercial heart of Bangladesh. The city has a growing middle class
population, driving the market for modern consumer and luxury goods. The city has historically attracted a large number of migrant workers. Hawkers
, peddlers, small shops, rickshaw
transport, roadside vendors and stalls employ a large segment of the population — rickshaw-drivers alone number as many as 400,000. Half the workforce is employed in household and unorganised labour, while about 800,000 work in the textile
industry. Even so, unemployment remains high at 19%. As of 2009, Dhaka's Gross Municipal Product (GMP) is registered at $85 billion. With an annual growth rate of 6.2%, the GMP is projected to rise to $215 billion by 2025. The annual per capita income of Dhaka is estimated at $1,350(USD), with 34% of households living below the poverty line, including a large segment of the population coming from the villages in search of employment, with most surviving on less than $5 a day.
The main commercial areas of the city include Motijheel
, New Market
, Gulshan
and Farmgate
, while Tejgaon
and Hazaribagh
are the major industrial areas. Bashundhara-Baridhara is a developing economic area that will include high-tech industries, corporations and a large shopping precinct in about 5 years. The Export Processing Zone in Dhaka was set up to encourage the export of garments, textiles and other goods. Dhaka has two EPZs. They are home to 413
industries, which employ mostly women.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange
is based in the city, as are most of the large multinationals including Citigroup
, HSBC Bank Bangladesh, JPMorgan Chase, Standard Chartered Bank (Bangladesh)
, American Express
, Chevron
, Exxon Mobil, Total
, British Petroleum, Unilever
, Nestle
, DHL Express
, FedEx
and British American Tobacco
. Large local conglomerates such as Concord Group, Rangs Group, Beximco Group
, T.K. Group of Industries, Summit Group, Navana Group
, Zaman Group of Industries
and Rahimafrooz
also have their corporate offices located in Dhaka. Microcredit
also began here and the offices of the Nobel Prize winning Grameen Bank
and BRAC
are based in Dhaka. Urban developments have sparked a widespread construction boom; new high-rise buildings and skyscraper
s have changed the city landscape. Growth has been especially strong in the finance, banking, manufacturing, telecommunications and services sectors, while tourism, hotels and restaurants continue as important elements in the economy of Dhaka.
, Dhaka will become a home of 25 million people by the year 2025.
The literacy rate in Dhaka is also increasing fairly quickly. It was estimated at 62.3% in 2001. By 2010, the literacy rate had gone up to 72.7%, significantly higher than the national average of 56.5%.
The city population is composed of people from virtually every region of Bangladesh. The long-standing inhabitants of the old city are known as Dhakaia and have a distinctive dialect and culture. Between 15,000 to 20,000 of the Rohingya
, Santal
, Khasi, Garo
, Chakma
and Mandi
tribal peoples reside in the city. Dhaka also has a large population of Chinese
, Korean
, Indian
, Burmese and Nepali
expatriates working in executive jobs in different industries.
Most residents of Dhaka speak Bangla, the national language. Many distinctive Bangla dialects and regional languages such as Chittagonian
and Sylheti
are also spoken by segments of the population. English
is spoken by a large segment of the population, especially for business purposes. There is a minority Urdu
-speaking population, who are descendants of displaced Muslims from eastern India
during 1947 and sought refuge in East Pakistan
. The correct population is ambiguous; although official figures estimate at least 40,000 residents, it is estimated that there are at least 300,000 Urdu-speakers in all of Bangladesh, mostly residing in refugee camps in Dhaka.
Islam
is the dominant religion of Dhaka's people, of about 90% of the city practicing the faith; with a majority belonging to the Sunni
sect. There is also a small Shia sect, and an Ahmadiya community. Hinduism
is the second-largest religion, with about 9%, and smaller communities practice Buddhism
and Christianity
, both of about .5% each.
As the most populous city of Bangladesh, Dhaka has a vibrant cultural life. Annual celebrations for Independence Day
(26 March), Language Martyrs' Day
(21 February) and Victory Day
(16 December) are prominently celebrated across the city. Dhaka's people congregate at the Shaheed Minar
and the Jatiyo Smriti Soudho
to remember the national heroes of the liberation war. These occasions are observed with public ceremonies and rallies in public grounds. Many schools and colleges organise fairs, festivals and concerts in which citizens from all levels of society participate.
Pohela Baishakh
, the Bengali New Year, falls annually on April 14 and is popularly celebrated across the city. Large crowds of people gather on the streets of Shahbag
, Ramna Park
and the campus of the University of Dhaka
for celebrations. The most popular dressing style for women are sarees
or salwar kameez, while men usually prefer western clothing to the traditional lungi
. The Muslim festivals of Eid ul-Fitr
and Eid ul-Adha
witness widespread celebrations across the whole city.
For much of recent history, Dhaka was characterised by roadside markets and small shops that sold a wide variety of goods. Recent years have seen the widespread construction of shopping malls, multiplex
es, hotels and restaurants attracting Dhaka's growing middle class and wealthy residents. Along with Bangladeshi cuisine
and South Asian variants
, a large variety of Western and Chinese cuisine
is served at numerous restaurants and eateries. Though restaurants offering multinational cuisine and fastfood chains like KFC
, Pizza Hut
, Baskin Robbins, A&W
and Chili's
have opened up in the city, unique Dhakai delicacies like Glassey, Hajir Biriani (Haji's Biriani), Fakhruddin Biriani, Mama Halim, Borhani etc. are still very popular amongst Dhakaiyas. These delicacies are even offered to state guests. Dhakai Bakarkhani
is the traditional food/snack of the people of old Dhaka. It is famous for its quality and taste and it was highly praised by the royal court of the Mughal Empire
in Delhi
.
Despite the growing popularity of music groups and rock bands, traditional folk music
remains widely popular. The works of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
and national anthem writer Rabindranath Tagore
have a widespread following across Dhaka. The Baily Road area is known as Natak Para (Theatre Neighbourhood) which is the centre of Dhaka's thriving theatre movement. Indian and Western music and films are popular with large segments of Dhaka's population. This area is also credited for the revival of the Jamdani
due to the many local saree stores selling and promoting these locally hand-made age old traditional Bengali sarees. Jamdanis are 100% hand weaved and originate from the Persian and Mughal era. Jamdani
s are produced by a traditional high quality cottage industry, which is slowly dying out due to the slow production process. A single medium range Jamdani saree may take as long as 3 months to complete.
Bangladesh Betar
is the state-run primary provider of radio services, and broadcasts a variety of programming in Bangla and English. In recent years many private radio networks, especially FM radio services, have been established in the city such as Radio Foorti FM 88.0, Radio Today FM 89.6, Radio Amar FM 88.4 and ABC Radio FM 89.2. Bangladesh Television
is the state-run broadcasting network that provides a wide variety of programmes in Bangla and English. Cable and satellite networks such as Ekushey Television
, Channel I
, ATN Bangla
, RTV
, NTV
and Independent Television (Bangladesh)
are amongst the most popular channels. The main offices of most publishing houses in Bangladesh are based in Dhaka. The Prothom Alo
and The Daily Ittefaq are the most popular amongst the large number of Bangla language dailies, periodicals and other publications in the city. The Daily Star and The Independent
are the major English dailies published. The telephone concentration in Bangladesh is estimated at around 50% and this is much higher in Dhaka.
s and auto rickshaw
s are the main mode of transport, with close to 400,000 rickshaws running each day – the largest number for any city in the world. However, only about 85,000 rickshaws are licensed by the city government. Relatively low-cost and non-polluting cycle rickshaws nevertheless cause traffic congestion
and have been banned from many parts of the city. Public buses are operated by the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation
(BRTC) and by private companies and operators. Scooter
s, taxis and privately owned automobiles are increasingly becoming popular with the city's growing middle class. The government has overseen the replacement of two-stroke engine taxis with "Green taxis" locally called CNG, which run on compressed natural gas
.
Dhaka has 1,868 kilometres (1,161 mi) of paved roads. It is connected to the other parts of the country through strong highway and railway links. Highway links to the Indian cities of Kolkata
and Agartala have been established by the BRTC
which also runs regular bus services to those cities from Dhaka.
The Kamalapur Railway Station
, Airport (Biman Bandar) Railway Station
and the Cantonment Railway Station are the main railway stations providing trains on suburban & national routes operated by the state-run Bangladesh Railway
. Bangladesh Railway also runs a regular train service between Dhaka and Kolkata.
The Sadarghat Port on the banks of the Buriganga River serves for the transport of goods and passengers upriver and to other ports in Bangladesh.
The Shahjalal International Airport, located 15 km north of Dhaka city centre, is the largest and busiest airport in the nation. It handles 52% of the country's international and domestic arrivals and departures. Domestic service flies to Chittagong
, Sylhet
, Cox's Bazar
, Jessore, Barisal, Saidpur and international services fly to major cities in Asia
, the Middle East
, North Africa
and Western Europe
.
An elevated Expressway system is under construction. The Dhaka Elevated Expressway would run from Shahjalal International Airport-Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Saatrasta-Moghbazar rail crossing-Khilgaon-Kamalapur-Golapbagh to Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Kutubkhali point. A longer second elevated expressway from airport-Ashulia is currently undergoing feasibility study.
The Dhaka Metro
feasibility study has been completed. A 21.5 kilometer, $1.7 Billion Phase 1, metro route is being negotiated by the Government with Japan International Cooperation Agency. The first route will start from Pallabi, northern suburb of Dhaka to Sayedabad, southern section of Dhaka.
Dhaka has the largest number of schools, colleges and universities of any Bangladeshi city. The education system is divided into 4 levels: Primary (from grades 1 to 5), Secondary (from grades 6 to 10), Higher Secondary (from grades 11 to 12) and tertiary. The five years of lower secondary education concludes with a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination. Students who pass this examination proceed to two years of Higher Secondary or intermediate training, which culminate in a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examination. Education is mainly offered in Bangla, but English
is also commonly taught and used. A large number of Muslim families send their children to attend part-time courses or even to pursue full-time religious education, which is imparted in Bangla and Arabic
in madrasahs.
There are 52 universities in Dhaka. The Dhaka College
is the oldest institution of higher education in the city and amongst the earliest established in British India
, founded in 1840. Since independence, Dhaka has seen the establishment of a large number of public and private colleges and universities that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as a variety of doctoral programmes. The University of Dhaka
is the largest public university in the nation with more than 30,000 students and 1,300 faculty staff. The university has 18 research centres and 70 departments, faculties and institutes. Eminent seats of higher education include the Jagannath University
, Jahangirnagar University
and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET). The Dhaka Medical College
and the Sir Salimullah Medical College
are amongst the largest and most respected medical schools in the nation. Dhaka's college campuses are often hotbeds of political conflicts. Protests and strikes, and violence amongst police, students and political groups frequently disrupt public university campuses.
Alongside public institutes of higher education there are some forty-five private universities in Dhaka. Notable private universities include American International University - Bangladesh (AIUB), North South University(NSU), BRAC University and East West University (see:List of universities in Bangladesh), most of which are located in Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Bashundhara and Dhanmondi areas of the city.
The British Council
plays an important role helping students to achieve GCE 'O' Level and 'A' Level qualifications from British Examination Boards. This is in addition to holding several examinations for professional bodies in the United Kingdom, including the UK medical Royal Colleges and Accountancy.
and football
are the two most popular sports in Dhaka and across the nation. Teams are fielded in intra-city and national competitions by a large number of schools, colleges and private entities. The Mohammedan Sports Club and Abahani are two of the most famous football and cricket teams, maintaining a fierce rivalry.
Dhaka has the distinction of having hosted the first official Test cricket
match of the Pakistan cricket team in 1954 against India. The Bangabandhu National Stadium
was formerly the main venue for domestic and international cricket matches, but now exclusively hosts football matches. It was the host for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup
as well as for 6 matches of the tournament including 2 quarterfinals. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board
, responsible for promoting sports activities across the nation is based in Dhaka. Dhaka also has stadiums largely used for domestic events such as the Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium
(in Mirpur
), the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium
and the Outer Stadium Ground
. The Dhaka University Ground hosts many intercollegiate tournaments.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity
Megacity
A megacity is usually defined as a metropolitan area with a total population in excess of 10 million people. Some definitions also set a minimum level for population density . A megacity can be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas that converge. The terms conurbation,...
and one of the major cities of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River
Buriganga River
The Buriganga River is the main river flowing beside Dhaka city, capital of Bangladesh. The average depth is and maximum depth is .-History:...
, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city in Bangladesh. It is the 9th largest city in the world and also 28th among the most densely populated cities in the world. Dhaka is known as the City of Mosques and with 400,000 cycle rickshaw
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
s running on its streets every day, the city is also described as the Rickshaw Capital of the World.
Under Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
rule in the 17th century, the city was known as Jahangir Nagar
Jahangir Nagar
Jahangir Nagar is the former name of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was named after Mughal Emperor Jahangir.To show respect to this name, a fully residential public university was established in Dhaka in 1970 as Jahangirnagar University....
. It was a provincial capital and a centre of the worldwide muslin
Muslin
Muslin |sewing patterns]], such as for clothing, curtains, or upholstery. Because air moves easily through muslin, muslin clothing is suitable for hot, dry climates.- Etymology and history :...
trade. The modern city, however, was developed chiefly under British rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in the 19th century, and became the second-largest city in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
after Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(presently Kolkata). After the Partition of Bengal
Partition of Bengal (1905)
The decision of the Partition of Bengal was announced on 19 July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The partition took effect on 16 October 1905...
in 1905, Dhaka became the capital of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam
Eastern Bengal and Assam
Eastern Bengal and Assam was a province of British India, constituted of the eastern portion of the erstwhile province of Bengal and the Chief Commissioner's province of Assam. The new province came into being on 16th October 1905, following a partition of Bengal. The Bengali Hindu people agitated...
but lost its status as a provincial capital again after the partition was annulled in 1911. After the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947, Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
, and later, in 1971, the capital of an independent Bangladesh. During the intervening period, the city witnessed widespread turmoil; this included many impositions of martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence, military suppression
Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in the erstwhile East Pakistan in March 1971. Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, this was seen as the sequel to "Operation Blitz" which had been...
, devastation during war, and natural calamities.
Modern Dhaka is the centre of political
Politics of Bangladesh
Politics of Bangladesh takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the...
, cultural
Culture of Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a long history in its culture. The land, the rivers, and the lives of the common people formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighbouring regions. It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh...
and economic
Economy of Bangladesh
The economy of Bangladesh is a rapidly developing market-based economy. Its per capita income in 2010 was est. US$1,700...
life in Bangladesh. Although its urban infrastructure is the most developed in the country, Dhaka suffers from urban problems such as pollution and overpopulation. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen modernisation of transport
Transport in Bangladesh
- Railways :Railway acts as an important method of mass transport in Bangladesh. Many districts of the country are connected via railroads. Bangladesh Railway was mostly inherited from the British-established Assam Bengal railway system after the partition of India in 1947...
, communications and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation, this has reportedly made Dhaka the fastest growing city in the world.
History
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
kingdom of Kamarupa
Kamarupa (History)
Kamarupa, also called Pragjyotisha, was the first historical kingdom in Assam that existed between 350 and 1140 CE i.e for almost 800 years. Ruled by three dynasties from their capitals in present-day Guwahati and Tezpur, it covered the entire Brahmaputra river valley and, at times, North Bengal...
and the Pala Empire
Pala Empire
The Pāla Empire was one of the major middle kingdoms of India existed from 750–1174 CE. It was ruled by a Buddhist dynasty from Bengal in the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent, all the rulers bearing names ending with the suffix Pala , which means protector. The Palas were often described...
before passing to the control of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Sena dynasty
Sena dynasty
The Sena Empire was a Hindu dynasty that ruled from Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. At its peak the empire covered much of the north-eastern region in the Indian Subcontinent. They were called Brahma-Kshatriyas, as evidenced through their surname, which is derived from the Sanskrit,...
in the 9th century. The name of the city may have derived after the establishment of the Goddess Dhakeshwari's temple by Ballal Sena
Ballal Sena
Ballal Sen was the second ruler of the Sen dynasty of Bengal. Son and successor of Vijay Sen, Ballal Sen is known from the extant Kuljigranthas to have introduced social reforms in Bengal, especially the system of Kulinism.-See also:* Prithvi Raj Chauhan* List of rulers of Bengal* History of...
in the 12th century. Dhaka and its surrounding area was identified as Bengalla around that period. The town itself consisted of a few market centres like Lakshmi Bazar, Shankhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar, Patuatuli, Kumartuli, Bania Nagar and Goal Nagar. After the Sena Empire, Dhaka was successively ruled by the Sultanate of Bengal
Sultanate of Bengal
The Sultanate of Bengal was a state that existed from the 14th through the 16th centuries. It was eventually absorbed into the Mughal fold. The Sultanate was ruled by a series of dynasties with both local and foreign origins.-Origins:...
as well as interruption of governors from the Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
before being taken over by the Mughals
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
in 1608. The development of townships and housing has resulted into a significant growth in population came as the city was proclaimed the capital (Rajmahal) of Bengal under Mughal rule in 1608. Mughal subahdar
Subahdar
Subahdar was one of the designations of a governor of a Subah during the Mughal era of India who was alternately designated as Sahib-i-Subah or Nazim. The word, Subahdar is of Persian origin...
Islam Khan
Islam Khan I
Shaikh Alauddin Chisti was a Subahdar and general of the army of the Mughal empire in Bengal, and the first governor of the city of Dhaka, the capital of modern Bangladesh...
was the first administrator of the city. Khan named the town "Jahangir Nagar" (জাহাঙ্গীর নগর; City of Jahangir) in honour of the Mughal emperor Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
, although this name was dropped soon after Jahangir's death. The main expansion of the city took place under Mughal general Shaista Khan
Shaista Khan
Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan , was a Subahdar and general in the army of the Mughal Empire. A maternal uncle to Emperor Aurangzeb, he served as the Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of his nephew, the emperor...
. The city then measured 19 by 13 kilometres (12 by 8 mi), with a population of nearly one million people. British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in 1765 gained right to collect revenue (Diwani right) and later took over governing in 1793 when Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
s of Bengal were forced to abdicate all their authority over Bengal, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
& Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
& the city passed on to total British control. The city's population shrank dramatically during this period as the prominence of Calcutta rose, but substantive development and modernisation eventually followed. A modern civic water supply system was introduced in 1874 and electricity supply launched in 1878. The Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka Cantonment is a cantonment located in the northern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The headquarters of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force are situated within this cantonment...
was established near the city, serving as a base for British and Bengali soldiers.
Partition of Bengal (1905)
The decision of the Partition of Bengal was announced on 19 July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The partition took effect on 16 October 1905...
in 1905, Dhaka was declared to be the capital of the newly established state of East Bengal and Assam, but Bengal was reunited in 1911. Following the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947, Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. The city witnessed major communal violence following the partition of India. A large proportion of the city's Hindu
Hinduism in Bangladesh
Hinduism is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh, covering more than 9.2% of the population, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics...
population departed for India, while the city received a large influx of Muslims
Islam in Bangladesh
Islam is the largest religion of Bangladesh, the Muslim population is approximately 148.6 million, which is the third largest Muslim population in the world, constituting 90.4% of the total population as of 2010. Religion has always been a strong part of identity, but this has varied at different...
. As the centre of regional politics, however, Dhaka saw an increasing number of political strikes and incidents of violence. The adoption of Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
as the sole official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
of Pakistan led to protest marches involving large crowds. Known as the Bengali Language Movement, the protests resulted in Pakistani police firing which killed a number of peaceful student demonstrators. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Dhaka remained a hotbed of political activity, and the demands for autonomy for the Bengali population gradually gained momentum.
The 1970 Bhola cyclone
1970 Bhola cyclone
The 1970 Bhola cyclone was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck East Pakistan and India's West Bengal on November 12, 1970. It was the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, and one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern times...
devastated much of the region, killing an estimated 500,000 people. More than half the city was flooded and millions of people were marooned. With public anger growing against ethnic discrimination and poor cyclone relief efforts from the central government, Bengali politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
held a nationalist gathering on March 7, 1971 at Ramna Racecourse
Suhrawardy Udyan
Suhrawardy Udyan formerly known as Ramna Racecourse ground is a national memorial located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Once known as ‘‘Bagh-e-Badshahi’’ during the Mughal rule, it is named after Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. Originally it served as the military club of the British soldiers stationed in Dhaka...
. An estimated one million people attended the gathering, leading to the March 26 declaration of Bangladesh's independence. In response, the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
launched Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in the erstwhile East Pakistan in March 1971. Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, this was seen as the sequel to "Operation Blitz" which had been...
, which led to the arrests, torture and killing of thousands of people. After nine months of bloody battle with Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and Mitra Bahini, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
on December 16 marking the end of the independence war of Bangladesh. As the nation's capital, Dhaka saw a rapid and massive growth of the city population in the post-independence period, as migrant workers from rural areas across Bangladesh moved to the city. The growth of commerce and industry along with the city's population has created further challenges to services and infrastructure. A real estate boom has followed the expansion of city limits and the development of new settlements such as Uttara
Uttara Thana
Uttara is a Thana of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The name derives from the Bengali word "ut'tar" meaning "north". It lies on the road to Gazipur, and adjoins Shahjalal International Airport....
, Mohammadpur
Mohammadpur Thana
Mohammadpur is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Though initially Mohammadpur has grown as a residential area, nowadays many commercial places can be found here. The area has become more crowded than it was before...
, Bashundhara
Bashundhara
Boshundhora is a privately developed residential area in Dhaka, Bangladesh by the Boshundhora Group. The Appolo Hospital as well as the Grameenphone headquarters are located at Boshundhora....
, Mirpur
Mirpur Thana
Mirpur is a thana of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. It is bounded by Pallabi Thana to the north, Mohammadpur Thana to the south, Kafrul to the east - to the west it is bounded by Savar Upazila.-Geography:Mirpur is located at...
and Motijheel
Motijheel
Motijheel is an administrative division of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. It is situated at the heart of the city . Motijheel is the major business and commercial hub of Dhaka city and has more offices and business institutions than any other part of the city...
.
Geography
Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh at 23°42′0"N 90°22′30"E, on the eastern banks of the Buriganga RiverBuriganga River
The Buriganga River is the main river flowing beside Dhaka city, capital of Bangladesh. The average depth is and maximum depth is .-History:...
. The city lies on the lower reaches of the Ganges Delta
Ganges Delta
The Ganges Delta is a river delta in the South Asia region of Bengal, consisting of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal, India. It is the world's largest delta, and empties into the Bay of Bengal...
and covers a total area of 360 square kilometres (139 sq mi). It consists of eight principal thana
Administrative divisions of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is divided as follows#divisions 7 #districts 64 #subdistricts #Union ParishadsDhaka City has 90 wards and 725 mahallas.-Former regions:...
s –Lalbagh
Lalbagh Thana
Lalbagh is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.-Geography:Lalbagh is located at . It has 71475 units of house hold and total area 9.14 km²....
, Kotwali, Sutrapur, Ramna, Motijheel
Motijheel
Motijheel is an administrative division of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. It is situated at the heart of the city . Motijheel is the major business and commercial hub of Dhaka city and has more offices and business institutions than any other part of the city...
, Paltan
Paltan
Paltan is a Thana of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is often said to be the center of Dhaka, dividing "Old Dhaka" and "New Dhaka". Paltan was made a thana in 2005 by then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.-PALTAN:...
, Dhanmondi
Dhanmondi Thana
Dhanmondi is one of the most crowded planned areas in Dhaka city. Its origins can be traced back to the late 1950s, beginning as an affluent residential area, and over the decades evolving into a miniature city, where one can find everything from hospitals to malls, schools, banks, offices and...
, Mohammadpur
Mohammadpur Thana
Mohammadpur is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Though initially Mohammadpur has grown as a residential area, nowadays many commercial places can be found here. The area has become more crowded than it was before...
, Tejgaon – and 16 auxiliary thanas – Gulshan
Gulshan Thana
Gulshan is an affluent neighborhood of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is home to Bangladesh's wealthiest residents, including the billionaire Musa Bin Shamsher.- History :...
, Mirpur
Mirpur Thana
Mirpur is a thana of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. It is bounded by Pallabi Thana to the north, Mohammadpur Thana to the south, Kafrul to the east - to the west it is bounded by Savar Upazila.-Geography:Mirpur is located at...
, Pallabi, Shah Ali, Turaag, Sabujbagh, Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka Cantonment is a cantonment located in the northern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The headquarters of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force are situated within this cantonment...
, Demra, Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh Thana
Hazaribagh is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.Bangladesh College of Leather Technology is situated at Hazaribagh.-Environment:...
, Shyampur
Shyampur
Shyampur is a major neighbourhood of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.shyampur is the famous cities of Bangladesh in dhaka. it has four routes which is very famous by rajpal citiesits famous for its cotton work also.......
, Badda, Kafrul, Kamrangir char, Khilgaon and Uttara. In total the city has 130 wards and 725 mohallas. Dhaka district has an area of 1463.60 square kilometres (565 sq mi); and is bounded by the districts of Gazipur
Gazipur District
Gazipur District is a district of Dhaka Division, it has an area of 1741.53 km2 and is bounded by Mymensingh and Kishoreganj districts on the north, Dhaka, Narayanganj and Narsingdi districts on the south, Narsingdi on the east, Dhaka and Tangail districts on the west. Annual average...
, Tangail
Tangail District
Tangail is a district in central region of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka division. The population of Tangail zilla is about 3.2 million and its surface area is 3,414.39 km². The main town of Tangail District is the district town Tangail...
, Munshiganj
Munshiganj District
Munshiganj also historically known as Bikrampur is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division and borders Dhaka District.-Geography:...
, Rajbari
Rajbari District
The district of Rajbari consists 3629 mosques, 18 temples and nine churches.-See also:*Districts of Bangladesh*Dhaka Division...
, Narayanganj
Narayanganj District
The district of Narayanganj consists 3078 mosques, 269 temples, ten churches and four Buddhist temples.-Places of interest:The ancient city of Sonargaon was the capital of Isa Khan, a medieval ruler of Bengal. Sonargaon is also famous for producing muslin, a delicate and fine cloth made from cotton...
, Manikganj
Manikganj District
The district of Manikganj consists 3575 mosques, 160 temples, 10 churches, five Buddhist temples and a pagoda.-Literacy and education:Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 26.9%; male 33.7%, female 20.1%...
. Tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
vegetation and moist soils characterize the land, which is flat and close to sea level. This leaves Dhaka susceptible to flooding during the monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
seasons owing to heavy rainfall and cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
s.
Climate
Dhaka experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. Under the Koppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, Dhaka has a tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories "Aw" and '"As."...
. The city has a distinct monsoonal season
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
, with an annual average temperature of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) and monthly means varying between 19.5 °C (67 °F) in January and 32 °C (90 °F) in April. Approximately 87% of the annual average rainfall of 2,121 millimeters (83.5 in) occurs between May and October. Increasing air and water pollution emanating from traffic congestion and industrial waste are serious problems affecting public health and the quality of life in the city. Water bodies and wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s around Dhaka are facing destruction as these are being filled up to construct multi-storied buildings and other real estate developments. Coupled with pollution, such erosion of natural habitats threatens to destroy much of the regional biodiversity.
Civic administration
The Dhaka municipality was founded on August 1, 1864, and upgraded to "corporationMunicipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
" status in 1978. The Dhaka City Corporation
Dhaka City Corporation
Dhaka City Corporation is the former self-governing corporation that is associated with the task of running the affairs of the city of Dhaka. The incorporated area is divided into several wards. Each ward has an elected ward commissioner. The mayor of the city is elected by popular vote every five...
is a self-governing corporation which runs the affairs of the city. The incorporated area is divided into several wards, which have elected commissioners. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city is elected by popular vote every five years, and the post is presently held by Sadeque Hossain Khoka
Sadeque Hossain Khoka
Sadeque Hossain Khoka is a Bangladeshi politician, ex-minister and mayor of the capital Dhaka. He is also Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party....
. The Dhaka Education Board
Dhaka Education Board
The Dhaka Education Board is responsible for administering all public schools with the exception of English-medium schools and madrassahs in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh as well as the entire Dhaka Division....
is responsible for administering all public schools
Education in Bangladesh
The educational system in Bangladesh is three-tiered and highly subsidized. The government of Bangladesh operates many schools in the primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. It also subsidizes parts of the funding for many private schools...
and most private schools with the exception of English-medium schools and madrassah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
s. All madrassahs in Bangladesh are governed by a central board while English-medium schools are under separate educational and governance structures.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police is the division of Bangladesh Police responsible for law enforcement in the metropolis of Dhaka, the national capital and most populous city in Bangladesh. The DMP is the largest police force in Bangladesh...
(DMP) was established in 1976 and has 6,000 personnel in 12 police stations. With the rapid population growth of the city, the force has been raised to 23,000 personnel and the establishment of 33 police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
s has been completed and the creation of another 18 police stations is underway.
The city is divided into 25 (i.e. 2011) parliamentary constituencies. The two main political parties are the Awami League
Bangladesh Awami League
The Bangladesh Awami League , commonly known as the Awami League, is the mainstream center-left, secular political party in Bangladesh...
and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
. Ramna contains the Secretariat, which houses most of the government ministries. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh is the highest court of law in Bangladesh. It is composed of the High Court Division and the Appellate division, and was created by Part VI Chapter I of the Constitution of Bangladesh adopted in 1972. This is also the office of the Chief Justice, Appellate Division...
and the Dhaka High Court
Dhaka High Court
The Dhaka High Court is one of the most important high courts in Bangladesh, located in the capital of Dhaka with jurisdiction for the Dhaka District....
are located in the city. The Bangabhaban
Bangabhaban
The Banga Bhaban is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Bangladesh, the head of state of Bangladesh. Located in the capital Dhaka, the palace has been the official residence of the British Viceroy of India until 1912, when the capital was moved to New Delhi. From...
palace has served as the official residence of the Viceroy of India
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
, the governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of East Pakistan and presently the President of Bangladesh
President of Bangladesh
Since 1991, the President of Bangladesh is the head of state, a largely ceremonial post elected by the parliament. Since 1996, the President's role becomes more important after the term of the government has finished, when his executive authority is enhanced as laid down in the constitution of the...
. The Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban
Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban
Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, the National Assembly of Bangladesh, is the Jatiyo Sangshad Building of Bangladesh, located in the capital Dhaka. It was created by architect Louis Kahn and is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world...
, designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn
Louis Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935...
, houses the unicameral
Unicameralism
In government, unicameralism is the practice of having one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Thus, a unicameral parliament or unicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of one chamber or house...
national parliament. The Baitul Mukarram
Baitul Mukarram
Baitul Mukarram is the national mosque of Bangladesh. Located at the heart of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, the mosque was completed in 1968. The mosque has a capacity of 30,000, giving it the respectable position of being the 10th biggest mosque in the world. However the mosque is constantly...
, developed with a design resembling the Kaaba
Kaaba
The Kaaba is a cuboid-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred site in Islam. The Qur'an states that the Kaaba was constructed by Abraham, or Ibraheem, in Arabic, and his son Ishmael, or Ismaeel, as said in Arabic, after he had settled in Arabia. The building has a mosque...
of Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, is the national mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
. Other historical monuments in the city include the Bara Katra
Bara Katra
The Bara Katra is a historical and architectural monument located in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is a palatial building dating to the reign of the Mughal dynasty in the Bengal region...
palace, the Lalbagh Fort, the Hoseni Dalan
Hoseni Dalan
]]]Hoseni Dalan, also spelt Husaini Dalan, is a Shia shrine in the old part of the Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was built in the 17th century during the Mughal era...
and the Ahsan Manzil
Ahsan Manzil
Ahsan Manzil was the official residential palace and seat of the Dhaka Nawab Family. This magnificent building is situated at Kumartoli along the banks of the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. The construction of this palace was started in the year 1859 and was completed in 1869. It is constructed in...
.
To fight rising traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
and population, the national government has recently implemented a policy for rapid urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
of surrounding areas and beyond by the introduction of a ten year holiday on income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
for new construction of facilities and buildings outside Dhaka.
Aside from Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, Dhaka has a water-borne sewage system, but this serves only 25% of the population while another 30% are served with septic tank
Septic tank
A septic tank is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations...
s. Only two-thirds of households in Dhaka are served by the city water supply system. More than 9.7 million tons of solid wastes are produced in Dhaka city each year. While private and government efforts have succeeded in collecting refuse city-wide and using it as manure
Manure
Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...
, most solid wastes are often dumped untreated in nearby low-lying areas and water bodies.
Economy
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
population, driving the market for modern consumer and luxury goods. The city has historically attracted a large number of migrant workers. Hawkers
Hawker centre
A hawker centre or cooked food centre is the name given to open-air complexes in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Riau Islands housing many stalls that sell a variety of inexpensive food...
, peddlers, small shops, rickshaw
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
transport, roadside vendors and stalls employ a large segment of the population — rickshaw-drivers alone number as many as 400,000. Half the workforce is employed in household and unorganised labour, while about 800,000 work in the textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
industry. Even so, unemployment remains high at 19%. As of 2009, Dhaka's Gross Municipal Product (GMP) is registered at $85 billion. With an annual growth rate of 6.2%, the GMP is projected to rise to $215 billion by 2025. The annual per capita income of Dhaka is estimated at $1,350(USD), with 34% of households living below the poverty line, including a large segment of the population coming from the villages in search of employment, with most surviving on less than $5 a day.
The main commercial areas of the city include Motijheel
Motijheel
Motijheel is an administrative division of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. It is situated at the heart of the city . Motijheel is the major business and commercial hub of Dhaka city and has more offices and business institutions than any other part of the city...
, New Market
New Market, Dhaka
New Market , north of Azimpur, Dhaka began its construction in 1952 by C&B Dept. on of land during the period Mr. Nurul Amin, the Chief Minister of East Pakistan. Market was completed in 1954. Mr. Nurul Amin was also active in establishing the first posh Hotel Shahbagh at Shahbagh area . This...
, Gulshan
Gulshan Thana
Gulshan is an affluent neighborhood of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is home to Bangladesh's wealthiest residents, including the billionaire Musa Bin Shamsher.- History :...
and Farmgate
Farmgate
Farmgate is an important place of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. This is one of the busiest and most crowded areas of Dhaka city. From the early 1990s, the area has seen massive building and construction boom...
, while Tejgaon
Tejgaon Thana
Tejgaon is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is a large area in the centre of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. This is an important area of Dhaka city as prime minister's office is located here. It is bounded by Mohakhali to the north, Old Airport Road to the east...
and Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh Thana
Hazaribagh is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.Bangladesh College of Leather Technology is situated at Hazaribagh.-Environment:...
are the major industrial areas. Bashundhara-Baridhara is a developing economic area that will include high-tech industries, corporations and a large shopping precinct in about 5 years. The Export Processing Zone in Dhaka was set up to encourage the export of garments, textiles and other goods. Dhaka has two EPZs. They are home to 413
industries, which employ mostly women.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange
Dhaka Stock Exchange
Dhaka Stock Exchange is the main stock exchange of Bangladesh. It is located in Motijheel at the heart of the Dhaka city. It was incorporated in 1954. Dhaka stock exchange is the first stock exchange of the country...
is based in the city, as are most of the large multinationals including Citigroup
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
, HSBC Bank Bangladesh, JPMorgan Chase, Standard Chartered Bank (Bangladesh)
Standard Chartered Bank (Bangladesh)
Standard Chartered Bank has been operating in Bangladesh for over a hundred years. After the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, Bangladesh became East Pakistan, thereafter SCB started its business in 1948, in the port city of Chittagong...
, American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
, Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
, Exxon Mobil, Total
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
, British Petroleum, Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
, Nestle
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
, DHL Express
DHL Express
DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
, FedEx
FedEx
FedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
and British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
. Large local conglomerates such as Concord Group, Rangs Group, Beximco Group
Beximco
The Beximco Group is the largest private sector conglomerate in Bangladesh. The group has interests in pharmaceuticals, textiles, ceramics, jute, aviation, media, finance, real estate, construction and energy. It is also the parent company of GMG Airlines and Independent Television ....
, T.K. Group of Industries, Summit Group, Navana Group
Navana Group
Navana Group is a Bangladeshi industrial conglomerate.Navana Group under the leadership of Mr. Shafiul Islam Kamal as Chairman emerged into a separate physical entity from Islam Group after the death of its Chairman Mr. Jahurul Islam which was then the largest business group in Bangladesh...
, Zaman Group of Industries
Zaman Group of Industries
- Company Overview :Zaman Group of Industries is a Bangladeshi industrial conglomerate headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh.This business group has interests in Poultry, Agriculture, Manufacturing , Fisheries, Edible Oil, Jute, Steel, Dairy, Consumer Products, Cold Storage, Plastic and Transport...
and Rahimafrooz
Rahimafrooz
Rahimafrooz, founded in 1954 by Late A. C. Abdur Rahim as a trading company, is one of the largest business groups in Bangladesh. It consists of nine SBUs and several other affiliations. The Group's Chairman is Mr. Afroz Rahim and the Managing Director is Mr. Feroz RahimRahimafrooz operates in...
also have their corporate offices located in Dhaka. Microcredit
Microcredit
Microcredit is the extension of very small loans to those in poverty designed to spur entrepreneurship. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit...
also began here and the offices of the Nobel Prize winning Grameen Bank
Grameen Bank
The Grameen Bank is a microfinance organization and community development bank started in Bangladesh that makes small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral...
and BRAC
BRAC (NGO)
BRAC, based in Bangladesh, is the world's largest non-governmental development organization. Established by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in 1972 soon after the independence of Bangladesh, BRAC is present in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, with over 7 million microfinance group members, 37,500 non-formal...
are based in Dhaka. Urban developments have sparked a widespread construction boom; new high-rise buildings and skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
s have changed the city landscape. Growth has been especially strong in the finance, banking, manufacturing, telecommunications and services sectors, while tourism, hotels and restaurants continue as important elements in the economy of Dhaka.
Demographics
The population of Dhaka (areas under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka city corporation) stands at approximately 7.0 million. The city, in combination with localities forming the wider metropolitan area, is home to an estimated 14.6 million as of 2010. The population is growing by an estimated 4.2% per year, one of the highest rates amongst Asian cities. The continuing growth reflects ongoing migration from rural areas to the Dhaka urban region, which accounted for 60% of the city's growth in the 1960s and 1970s. More recently, the city's population has also grown with the expansion of city boundaries, a process that added more than a million people to the city in the 1980s. According to Far Eastern Economic ReviewFar Eastern Economic Review
The Far Eastern Economic Review was an English language Asian news magazine started in 1946. It printed its final issue in December 2009. The Hong Kong-based business magazine was originally published weekly...
, Dhaka will become a home of 25 million people by the year 2025.
The literacy rate in Dhaka is also increasing fairly quickly. It was estimated at 62.3% in 2001. By 2010, the literacy rate had gone up to 72.7%, significantly higher than the national average of 56.5%.
The city population is composed of people from virtually every region of Bangladesh. The long-standing inhabitants of the old city are known as Dhakaia and have a distinctive dialect and culture. Between 15,000 to 20,000 of the Rohingya
Rohingya people
The Rohingya is a predominantly Muslim ethnic group of disputed origin who live in Arakan State, western Burma. The Rohingya population is mostly concentrated to the cities of Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Akyab, Rathedaung and Kyauktaw.-Etymology:...
, Santal
Santals
The Santhal , are the largest tribal community in India, who live mainly in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam. There is also a significant Santal minority in neighboring Bangladesh, and a small population in Nepal....
, Khasi, Garo
Garo (tribe)
See also Garo for other uses.The Garos are a tribal people in Meghalaya, India and neighboring areas of Bangladesh, who call themselves A·chik Mande or simply A·chik or Mande...
, Chakma
Chakma people
The Chakmas , also known as the Changhma , are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or...
and Mandi
Mandi
-Places:*Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, a city in Himachal Pradesh, India* Mandi State, former princely state.*Mandi *Mandi district, a district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India*Mandı, Azerbaijan...
tribal peoples reside in the city. Dhaka also has a large population of Chinese
Chinese people in Bangladesh
There are over a thousand Chinese citizens and nationals who live in Bangladesh. Both China and Bangladesh lie in close geographical proximity, separated only by the narrow Siliguri Corridor of India and immigration is common between the two countries. Most Chinese expatriates are based in Dhaka...
, Korean
Korean people
The Korean people are an ethnic group originating in the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. Koreans are one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogeneous groups in the world.-Names:...
, Indian
Indians in Bangladesh
There are hundreds and thousands of Indians in Bangladesh, most of whom are illegal migrants and refugees. According to data produced by the Bangladeshi Ministry of Home Affairs, as many as 500,000 Indians were staying in Bangladesh illegally in 2009...
, Burmese and Nepali
Nepali people
Nepali people can refer to:*People of Nepal*Ethnic Nepalis of Indian citizenry residing in Gorkhaland area of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and other parts of India.* Indian Gorkhas*Lhotshampas of Bhutan.*Nepali diaspora the world over....
expatriates working in executive jobs in different industries.
Most residents of Dhaka speak Bangla, the national language. Many distinctive Bangla dialects and regional languages such as Chittagonian
Chittagonian language
Chittagonian is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the people of Chittagong in Bangladesh and in much of the southeast of the country. It is closely related to Bangla, but is normally considered by linguists to be a separate language rather than a dialect of Bangla. It is estimated to have 14...
and Sylheti
Sylheti language
Sylheti is the language of Sylhet, which is also known as the Surma Valley and is located in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh, and also spoken in parts of the Northeast Indian states of Assam and Tripura...
are also spoken by segments of the population. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is spoken by a large segment of the population, especially for business purposes. There is a minority Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
-speaking population, who are descendants of displaced Muslims from eastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during 1947 and sought refuge in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. The correct population is ambiguous; although official figures estimate at least 40,000 residents, it is estimated that there are at least 300,000 Urdu-speakers in all of Bangladesh, mostly residing in refugee camps in Dhaka.
Islam
Islam in Bangladesh
Islam is the largest religion of Bangladesh, the Muslim population is approximately 148.6 million, which is the third largest Muslim population in the world, constituting 90.4% of the total population as of 2010. Religion has always been a strong part of identity, but this has varied at different...
is the dominant religion of Dhaka's people, of about 90% of the city practicing the faith; with a majority belonging to the Sunni
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
sect. There is also a small Shia sect, and an Ahmadiya community. Hinduism
Hinduism in Bangladesh
Hinduism is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh, covering more than 9.2% of the population, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics...
is the second-largest religion, with about 9%, and smaller communities practice Buddhism
Buddhism in Bangladesh
Buddhism is the third largest religion in Bangladesh with about 0.7% of population adhering to Theravada Buddhism. Most of the practiconers are the tribal Jumma people who are found mainly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where they constitute about 45% of the area's population.- Demographic Overview...
and Christianity
Christianity in Bangladesh
Christianity arrived in what is now Bangladesh during the late sixteenth to early seventeenth century AD, through the Portuguese traders and missionaries. Christians account for approximately 0.3% of the total population. Christianity's first contact with the Indian subcontinent is attributed to...
, both of about .5% each.
Culture
Bangladeshi Independence Day
March 26 is the National Day of Bangladesh.This day is celebrated as the Independence Day in Bangladesh. This commemorates the declaration of independence, and the start of Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971...
(26 March), Language Martyrs' Day
Language Movement Day
Language Movement Day or Language Revolution Day , which is also referred to as Language Martyrs' Day or Martyrs' Day , is a national day of Bangladesh to commemorate protests and sacrifices to protect Bangla as a national language during Bengali Language Movement of 1952.-Background:In 1952,...
(21 February) and Victory Day
Victory Day (Bangladesh)
Victory Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh celebrated on December 16.On this day in 1971, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indo-Bangladeshi High Command in Dhaka, ending the 9 month-long Bangladesh Liberation War and 1971 Bangladesh atrocities. General AAK Niazi, the Commanding officer...
(16 December) are prominently celebrated across the city. Dhaka's people congregate at the Shaheed Minar
Shaheed Minar
The Shaheed Minar is a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established to commemorate those killed during the Language Movement demonstrations of 1952....
and the Jatiyo Smriti Soudho
Jatiyo Smriti Soudho
Jatiyo Sriti Soudho or National Martyrs' Memorial is a monument in Bangladesh. It is the symbol of the valour and the sacrifice of those killed in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which brought the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule. The monument is located in Savar, about...
to remember the national heroes of the liberation war. These occasions are observed with public ceremonies and rallies in public grounds. Many schools and colleges organise fairs, festivals and concerts in which citizens from all levels of society participate.
Pohela Baishakh
Pohela Baishakh
Bengali New Year or Poyela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, and in Bengali communities in Assam and Tripura...
, the Bengali New Year, falls annually on April 14 and is popularly celebrated across the city. Large crowds of people gather on the streets of Shahbag
Shahbag
Shahbag is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or Thana in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub, and serves as a junction between two contrasting sections of the city—Old Dhaka and New Dhaka—which lie, respectively, to its north and south...
, Ramna Park
Ramna Park
Ramna Park is a large park and recreation area situated at the heart of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh...
and the campus of the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
for celebrations. The most popular dressing style for women are sarees
Sari
A sari or sareeThe name of the garment in various regional languages include: , , , , , , , , , , , , , is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. It is popular in India, Bangladesh, Nepal,...
or salwar kameez, while men usually prefer western clothing to the traditional lungi
Lungi
The Lungi , also known as a sarong , is a traditional garment worn around the waist in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
. The Muslim festivals of Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
and Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Adha
Eid al-Adha or "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep— to sacrifice...
witness widespread celebrations across the whole city.
For much of recent history, Dhaka was characterised by roadside markets and small shops that sold a wide variety of goods. Recent years have seen the widespread construction of shopping malls, multiplex
Multiplex (movie theater)
A multiplex is a movie theater complex with multiple screens, typically three or more. They are usually housed in a specially designed building. Sometimes, an existing venue undergoes a renovation where the existing auditoriums are split into smaller ones, or more auditoriums are added in an...
es, hotels and restaurants attracting Dhaka's growing middle class and wealthy residents. Along with Bangladeshi cuisine
Cuisine of Bangladesh
Bangladeshi cuisine refers to the Bengali cuisine prevalent in Bangladesh. Bangladesh was the eastern part of Bengal before the Partition of India. The Bangladeshi cuisine incorporates many Persian-Arabic elements and the usage of beef greatly sets it apart from the cuisine in West Bengal in India....
and South Asian variants
South Asian cuisine
South Asian cuisine, also known as Desi cuisine, includes the cuisines from the Indian subcontinent. It has roots in South Asia, including practices taken from the Hindu beliefs practiced by the large population found in the region, alongside influences from neighbouring regions and cultures,...
, a large variety of Western and Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
is served at numerous restaurants and eateries. Though restaurants offering multinational cuisine and fastfood chains like KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
, Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
, Baskin Robbins, A&W
A&W Restaurants
A&W Restaurants, Inc., is a chain of fast-food restaurants, distinguished by its draft root beer and root beer floats. A&W was arguably the first successful food franchise company, starting franchises in 1921 in California. Today it has franchise locations throughout the world, serving a typical...
and Chili's
Chili's
Chili's Grill & Bar is a restaurant chain founded by Larry Lavine. The chain has more than 1400 casual dining restaurants, mostly located in the United States and Canada...
have opened up in the city, unique Dhakai delicacies like Glassey, Hajir Biriani (Haji's Biriani), Fakhruddin Biriani, Mama Halim, Borhani etc. are still very popular amongst Dhakaiyas. These delicacies are even offered to state guests. Dhakai Bakarkhani
Bakarkhani
Bakarkhani or Baqerkhani are a type of layered bread from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kashmir, similar to parathas or phyllo breads. It most likely originated in the Middle East and eventually spread to Kashmir. The Bangladeshi antecedent may also have come from the Afghan/Kashmir region, as...
is the traditional food/snack of the people of old Dhaka. It is famous for its quality and taste and it was highly praised by the royal court of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
Despite the growing popularity of music groups and rock bands, traditional folk music
Music of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is traditionally very rich in its musical heritage. From the ancient times, music documented the lives of the people and was widely patronized by the rulers....
remains widely popular. The works of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam , sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi...
and national anthem writer Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
have a widespread following across Dhaka. The Baily Road area is known as Natak Para (Theatre Neighbourhood) which is the centre of Dhaka's thriving theatre movement. Indian and Western music and films are popular with large segments of Dhaka's population. This area is also credited for the revival of the Jamdani
Jamdani
Jamdani is a hand loom woven fabric made of cotton, which historically was referred to as muslin. The Jamdani weaving tradition is of Bengali origin. It is one of the most time and labor intensive forms of weaving hand loom weaving. In the first half of the nineteenth century, James Taylor...
due to the many local saree stores selling and promoting these locally hand-made age old traditional Bengali sarees. Jamdanis are 100% hand weaved and originate from the Persian and Mughal era. Jamdani
Jamdani
Jamdani is a hand loom woven fabric made of cotton, which historically was referred to as muslin. The Jamdani weaving tradition is of Bengali origin. It is one of the most time and labor intensive forms of weaving hand loom weaving. In the first half of the nineteenth century, James Taylor...
s are produced by a traditional high quality cottage industry, which is slowly dying out due to the slow production process. A single medium range Jamdani saree may take as long as 3 months to complete.
Bangladesh Betar
Bangladesh Betar is the state-owned radio broadcasting organisation of Bangladesh. It was also known as Radio Bangladesh between 1975 and 1996.-History:...
is the state-run primary provider of radio services, and broadcasts a variety of programming in Bangla and English. In recent years many private radio networks, especially FM radio services, have been established in the city such as Radio Foorti FM 88.0, Radio Today FM 89.6, Radio Amar FM 88.4 and ABC Radio FM 89.2. Bangladesh Television
Bangladesh Television
Bangladesh Television , also known by the acronym BTV, is the state-owned Television network in Bangladesh. It started broadcasting as Pakistan Television in what was then East Pakistan on 25 December 1964. It was renamed Bangladesh Television after the independence in 1971. Broadcasts in full...
is the state-run broadcasting network that provides a wide variety of programmes in Bangla and English. Cable and satellite networks such as Ekushey Television
Ekushey Television
Ekushey Television is a private terrestrial channel in Bangladesh,. Official transmission began on April 14, 2000, after a very short time of transmission it became the voice of the nation and the most popular TV channel in Bangladesh through its news and other innovative programs...
, Channel I
Channel I
Channel i is a privately owned Television network in Bangladesh. It is owned by the Impress Group, among the largest conglomerates in Bangladesh with interests in textiles, pharmaceuticals and media....
, ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla is a Bengali language digital cable television channel. It transmits from its studio in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The channel is transmitted in South Asia, the Middle-east, Europe, and North America. The channel offers a wide variety of programming including news, movies, dramas, talk shows,...
, RTV
RTV (Bangladesh)
RTV is a satellite television channel broadcast from Bangladesh. It was launched on 26 December 2005 by the same people that ran NTV Bangla. It mainly broadcasts programs in Bangla...
, NTV
NTV (Bangladesh)
NTV is a Bengali language satellite television channel based in Bangladesh. It started operation in 2003. It is one of the most popular Bengali TV channels in the country. In the anniversary of the channel, the founder expressed interest in creating NTV2 to satisfy the watchers further, however he...
and Independent Television (Bangladesh)
Independent Television (Bangladesh)
Independent Television is a private, satellite- 24 hours news channel owned by one of Bangladesh's largest conglomerate Beximco. They are headquartered in Tejgaon, Dhaka. It obtained its license officially from the Government of Bangladesh in March, 2010....
are amongst the most popular channels. The main offices of most publishing houses in Bangladesh are based in Dhaka. The Prothom Alo
Prothom Alo
Prothom Alo is a major daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language.-History:Prothom Alo was founded on 4 November 1998. As at January 2009, it had an average circulation of 435,000...
and The Daily Ittefaq are the most popular amongst the large number of Bangla language dailies, periodicals and other publications in the city. The Daily Star and The Independent
The Independent (Bangladesh)
The Independent is an English language Daily newspaper published in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the only 32-page all-colour daily newspaper in Bangladesh....
are the major English dailies published. The telephone concentration in Bangladesh is estimated at around 50% and this is much higher in Dhaka.
Transport
Cycle rickshawCycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
s and auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
s are the main mode of transport, with close to 400,000 rickshaws running each day – the largest number for any city in the world. However, only about 85,000 rickshaws are licensed by the city government. Relatively low-cost and non-polluting cycle rickshaws nevertheless cause traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
and have been banned from many parts of the city. Public buses are operated by the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation is the state-owned transport corporation of Bangladesh. It was established under the Government Ordinance No.7 of 1961 dated 4 February 1961. Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, it assumed its current name.-Organisation:BRTC is a semi-autonomous...
(BRTC) and by private companies and operators. Scooter
Scooter (motorcycle)
A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
s, taxis and privately owned automobiles are increasingly becoming popular with the city's growing middle class. The government has overseen the replacement of two-stroke engine taxis with "Green taxis" locally called CNG, which run on compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
.
Dhaka has 1,868 kilometres (1,161 mi) of paved roads. It is connected to the other parts of the country through strong highway and railway links. Highway links to the Indian cities of Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
and Agartala have been established by the BRTC
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation is the state-owned transport corporation of Bangladesh. It was established under the Government Ordinance No.7 of 1961 dated 4 February 1961. Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, it assumed its current name.-Organisation:BRTC is a semi-autonomous...
which also runs regular bus services to those cities from Dhaka.
The Kamalapur Railway Station
Kamalapur Railway Station
Kamalapur Railway Station is the central railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the largest railway station of the country, however the most important terminal for communication between Dhaka and whole Bangladesh. It is also one of the most modern and striking buildings in Dhaka designed by...
, Airport (Biman Bandar) Railway Station
Airport (Biman Bandar) Railway Station
Biman Bandar Railway Station is an important railway station in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is situated opposite to Shahjalal International Airport. It is located on the Airport Road...
and the Cantonment Railway Station are the main railway stations providing trains on suburban & national routes operated by the state-run Bangladesh Railway
Bangladesh Railway
Bangladesh Railway is the state-owned rail transport agency of Bangladesh. It operates and maintains the entire railway network of the country...
. Bangladesh Railway also runs a regular train service between Dhaka and Kolkata.
The Sadarghat Port on the banks of the Buriganga River serves for the transport of goods and passengers upriver and to other ports in Bangladesh.
The Shahjalal International Airport, located 15 km north of Dhaka city centre, is the largest and busiest airport in the nation. It handles 52% of the country's international and domestic arrivals and departures. Domestic service flies to Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
, Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar is a town, a fishing port and district headquarters in Bangladesh. It is known for its wide sandy beach which is the world's longest natural sandy sea beach. It is an unbroken 125 km sandy sea beach with a gentle slope. It is located 150 km south of Chittagong. Cox’s Bazar...
, Jessore, Barisal, Saidpur and international services fly to major cities in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
.
An elevated Expressway system is under construction. The Dhaka Elevated Expressway would run from Shahjalal International Airport-Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Saatrasta-Moghbazar rail crossing-Khilgaon-Kamalapur-Golapbagh to Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Kutubkhali point. A longer second elevated expressway from airport-Ashulia is currently undergoing feasibility study.
The Dhaka Metro
Dhaka Metro
The Dhaka Metro is a proposed metro rail system to be constructed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It has been long called for to solve the huge amount of traffic jams and congestion throughout the entire city on a daily basis. A feasibility study has been completed, but construction has not begun...
feasibility study has been completed. A 21.5 kilometer, $1.7 Billion Phase 1, metro route is being negotiated by the Government with Japan International Cooperation Agency. The first route will start from Pallabi, northern suburb of Dhaka to Sayedabad, southern section of Dhaka.
Education
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is also commonly taught and used. A large number of Muslim families send their children to attend part-time courses or even to pursue full-time religious education, which is imparted in Bangla and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
in madrasahs.
Dhaka College
, located in Dhaka, is one of Bangladesh's earliest and most prestigious higher educational institutions. It offers both four years bachelor's and one years masters course in various majors, but it is best known for HSC...
is the oldest institution of higher education in the city and amongst the earliest established in British India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, founded in 1840. Since independence, Dhaka has seen the establishment of a large number of public and private colleges and universities that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as a variety of doctoral programmes. The University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
is the largest public university in the nation with more than 30,000 students and 1,300 faculty staff. The university has 18 research centres and 70 departments, faculties and institutes. Eminent seats of higher education include the Jagannath University
Jagannath University
Jagannath University is a government-financed public university in Sadarghat, Dhaka the capital of Bangladesh. Jagannath University is in the southern part of Dhaka city near the river Buriganga.-History:...
, Jahangirnagar University
Jahangirnagar University
Jahangirnagar University is a public university of Bangladesh. It is the one and only residential university in the country.The university was established in 1970 by the government of Pakistan by the Jahangirnagar Muslim University Ordinance, 1970. During the first two years, it operated as a...
and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
(BUET). The Dhaka Medical College
Dhaka Medical College and Hospital
Dhaka Medical College and Hospital , established in 1946 during the British colonial rule, is the top medical college in Bangladesh. Situated at the heart of the city in the academic zone along with University of Dhaka and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka Medical College...
and the Sir Salimullah Medical College
Sir Salimullah Medical College
Sir Salimullah Medical College is a government medical college in Bangladesh. It is located in the old part of the capital, Dhaka. It is affiliated with the University of Dhaka. Before 1854 it was a Dutch "kuthi" which was used for business purpose....
are amongst the largest and most respected medical schools in the nation. Dhaka's college campuses are often hotbeds of political conflicts. Protests and strikes, and violence amongst police, students and political groups frequently disrupt public university campuses.
Alongside public institutes of higher education there are some forty-five private universities in Dhaka. Notable private universities include American International University - Bangladesh (AIUB), North South University(NSU), BRAC University and East West University (see:List of universities in Bangladesh), most of which are located in Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Bashundhara and Dhanmondi areas of the city.
The British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
plays an important role helping students to achieve GCE 'O' Level and 'A' Level qualifications from British Examination Boards. This is in addition to holding several examinations for professional bodies in the United Kingdom, including the UK medical Royal Colleges and Accountancy.
Media and communications
- Postal service: The BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i postal service, commonly known as Bangladesh Post OfficeBangladesh Post OfficeThe Bangladesh Post Office is an attached department of the Bangladesh Ministry of Post and Telecommunication. This ministry is one of the important ministries of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The ministry of Post and Telecommunication is primarily responsible for...
, headquartered in Dhaka, is responsible for providing postal service throughout the country.
- Print and publication: Dhaka is home to the major newspapers and publications of Bangladesh's outspoken, diverse and privately owned press. Some of the major publications based in Dhaka include the country's oldest newspapers Daily Ittefaq, Daily AzadThe AzadThe Daily Azad is a Bengali daily newspaper that was first published in Kolkata on October 31, 1936. The first editor of the daily was Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan. In the early days the daily was treated as the expresser of the Muslims of Bengal and Assam. In the 1940s the editor was Mohammad...
, ManabzaminManabzaminThe Manab Zamin is a major daily tabloid newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language. It is the first and largest circulated Bengali tabloid Daily in the world, with monthly website hits of 8,400,000. The newspaper is also the only Bangladeshi newspaper to boast...
, Daily JanakanthaJanakanthaDainik Janakantha is a Bengali language daily newspaper published from Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is owned by the Globe group . This newspaper was first published on 21 February 1993....
, also Daily Prothom AloProthom AloProthom Alo is a major daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language.-History:Prothom Alo was founded on 4 November 1998. As at January 2009, it had an average circulation of 435,000...
, Amar DeshAmar DeshAmar Desh is a major daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language. Amardesh provides Bangladesh and International news as well as local and regional perspectives....
and so on. The major EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
newspapers include The Daily Star, The IndependentThe Independent (Bangladesh)The Independent is an English language Daily newspaper published in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the only 32-page all-colour daily newspaper in Bangladesh....
, New AgeNew Age (Bangladesh)New Age is a Bangladeshi English daily newspaper. It is one of the major English-language newspapers in the country....
and The Financial Express. Popular weekly newspapers and magazines include HolidayWeekly HolidayWeekly Holiday is a Bangladeshi periodical established by Enayetullah Khan on 1 August 1965 with considerable political influence in the late 1960s and the early 1970s. The weekly was known to be against the Pakistani regime. During the reign of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the magazine was often very...
, The StarThe Star (Bangladesh)The Star is a weekly current affairs magazine published as a supplement to The Daily Star, Bangladesh's largest circulated English newspaper. The magazine is increasingly seen to promote liberal, progressive and secular values in the country, keeping line with the ideals of the Bangladesh...
, Dhaka CourierDhaka CourierDhaka Courier is a Bangladeshi English language weekly newsmagazine. In publication since 1984, it is the longest-running English newsmagazine in Bangladesh and has a readership of 12,000 people, mostly among the urban elite and expatriate community of the country...
, Anandaloke and Saptahik 2000. Other major magazines and publications include ForumForum (Bangladesh)Forum is a Bangladeshi English language monthly current affairs magazine. Founded in 1969 in the then East Pakistan by human rights activist Hameeda Hossain and economist Rehman Sobhan, the magazine became renowned for its outspoken content advocating democracy and Bengali rights in Pakistan...
, Ice TodayIce TodayIce Today is a Bangladeshi lifestyle magazine focusing on contemporary culture and society in the country. The magazine has sections dedicated to business, fashion, health, women, music, travel and cuisine....
, The Executive Times, Energy Bangla, Annanya and Computer Jagat.
- News agency: The national news agency of BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
is Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. BSS handles national news including the activities of the government, diplomatic affairs, socio-political happenings, economy, finance, sports, culture, law and parliamentary affairs. Newspapers throughout the country, radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and televisionTelevisionTelevision is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
authorities, and some government agencies subscribe to the news service of BSS. The first privately-owned news agency in BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
Eastern News Agency was established in Dhaka in March 1970. Another private sector news agency United News of Bangladesh was launched in 1988 in Dhaka with the Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(AP) of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as its principal anchor.
- TV and radio: The state-run television BTVBangladesh TelevisionBangladesh Television , also known by the acronym BTV, is the state-owned Television network in Bangladesh. It started broadcasting as Pakistan Television in what was then East Pakistan on 25 December 1964. It was renamed Bangladesh Television after the independence in 1971. Broadcasts in full...
is headquartered in Rampura, Dhaka. Other private sector television channel include Desh Television, RTV, ATN BanglaATN BanglaATN Bangla is a Bengali language digital cable television channel. It transmits from its studio in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The channel is transmitted in South Asia, the Middle-east, Europe, and North America. The channel offers a wide variety of programming including news, movies, dramas, talk shows,...
, Channel IChannel IChannel i is a privately owned Television network in Bangladesh. It is owned by the Impress Group, among the largest conglomerates in Bangladesh with interests in textiles, pharmaceuticals and media....
, NTVNTV (Bangladesh)NTV is a Bengali language satellite television channel based in Bangladesh. It started operation in 2003. It is one of the most popular Bengali TV channels in the country. In the anniversary of the channel, the founder expressed interest in creating NTV2 to satisfy the watchers further, however he...
, Ekushey TelevisionEkushey TelevisionEkushey Television is a private terrestrial channel in Bangladesh,. Official transmission began on April 14, 2000, after a very short time of transmission it became the voice of the nation and the most popular TV channel in Bangladesh through its news and other innovative programs...
, BanglavisionBanglavisionBanglaVision is a satellite TV channel broadcast from Bangladesh. It began its formal transmission on 24 August 1995 through satellite Telstar 10.....
, Somoy Television, Independent, Maasranga Television etc. which are also based in Dhaka. The state-owned radio broadcasting organisation of Bangladesh, known as Bangladesh BetarBangladesh BetarBangladesh Betar is the state-owned radio broadcasting organisation of Bangladesh. It was also known as Radio Bangladesh between 1975 and 1996.-History:...
is located at Sher-e-Bangla Nagor in Dhaka. Other private radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
stations like Radio FoortiRadio FoortiRadio Foorti is a Bangladeshi FM radio station. The station went live on September 21, 2006 and is currently available in DhakaChittagongSylhetRajshahiKhulnaBarisalMymensinghCox's Bazar-Info:...
, Radio TodayRadio TodayRadio Today is a radio station in Bangladesh. It started airing in May 2006. It is currently available in Dhaka and Chittagong.-Info:It started as the country's first private FM radio station in May 2006 in Dhaka at 89.6 MHz. It later became available in Chittagong & Cox's Bazaar. Soon its going to...
, ABC RadioABC RadioCumulus Media Networks is an American radio network owned and operated by Cumulus Media. it controlled many of the assets of the former ABC Radio Networks, which Citadel Broadcasting purchased in June 2007...
, Radio AmarRadio AmarRadio Aamar is a 24-hours private FM radio station in Bangladesh. It broadcasts on 88.4FM in Dhaka. It started its official transmission in 11 December 2007...
etc. are also headquartered in Dhaka. Recently, a 24-hour news station named "ATN News" has emerged on screens.
Sports
CricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
are the two most popular sports in Dhaka and across the nation. Teams are fielded in intra-city and national competitions by a large number of schools, colleges and private entities. The Mohammedan Sports Club and Abahani are two of the most famous football and cricket teams, maintaining a fierce rivalry.
Dhaka has the distinction of having hosted the first official Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
match of the Pakistan cricket team in 1954 against India. The Bangabandhu National Stadium
Bangabandhu National Stadium
Bangabandhu National Stadium, also known as Dhaka Stadium, and formerly known as Dacca Stadium is the national stadium and a multipurpose sports arena in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located in the Motijheel area in the heart of the city...
was formerly the main venue for domestic and international cricket matches, but now exclusively hosts football matches. It was the host for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
as well as for 6 matches of the tournament including 2 quarterfinals. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board
Bangladesh Sports Control Board
The Bangladesh Sports Control Board is the national overseer of the control authorities of 29 different sports in Bangladesh. It is responsible to the Ministry of Sports in the national government, based in Dhaka....
, responsible for promoting sports activities across the nation is based in Dhaka. Dhaka also has stadiums largely used for domestic events such as the Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium
Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium
-External links:* - List of Fixtures to be played at Sher e Bangla National Stadium.* - an article on the recent reconstruction of the ground....
(in Mirpur
Mirpur Thana
Mirpur is a thana of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. It is bounded by Pallabi Thana to the north, Mohammadpur Thana to the south, Kafrul to the east - to the west it is bounded by Savar Upazila.-Geography:Mirpur is located at...
), the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium
Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium
Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium is a major public ground hosting matches of domestic and inter-collegiate cricket in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.It is the home of Dhaka division cricket team....
and the Outer Stadium Ground
Outer Stadium Ground
The Outer Stadium Ground is a major public sports venue in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is a multi-use stadium with a capacity of 10,000....
. The Dhaka University Ground hosts many intercollegiate tournaments.
External links
- Amra Bangladeshi Blog
- Official Dhaka City Corporation website
- Encyclopedia Britannica Article on Dhaka
- Banglapedia (the national encyclopedia of Bangladesh) article on Dhaka
- Dhaka travel guide from WikitravelWikitravel-External links:* *...
- Scrapbook of Bangladesh
- Bangladesh: Dhaka Rising – video by Global Post
- Food of Old Dhaka