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Dhaka

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

Dhaka 14th March (32595709004)
Dhaka 14th March (32595709004)

It sits on the huge Ganges Delta in Eastern South Asia. Many rivers surround the city, including the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari, and Shitalakshya. This makes the area a very wet and busy place. Dhaka is the largest Bengali-speaking city in the whole world. It is also a massive center for culture, science, and business. The city is very crowded with many people living close together.

Life in Dhaka is full of movement and color. You can see many colorful rickshaws moving through the streets. The city is famous for its tasty food, like Kacchi Biryani.

19th century porcelain rice dish of Old Dhaka family
19th century porcelain rice dish of Old Dhaka family

People also enjoy many different art festivals and street foods. The city is a place where many different religions live together. It is a very important hub for the economy of Bangladesh. In fact, the city accounts for 35% of the country's economy.

Dhaka-skyline-aymash
Dhaka-skyline-aymash

Dhaka has a very long and rich history. People have lived in this area since the first millennium. In the 17th century, it became a capital for the Mughal Empire. The Mughals called the city Jahangirnagar to honor Emperor Jahangir.

Renaldis muslin woman
Renaldis muslin woman

During this time, it was one of the richest cities on Earth. It was a famous center for the muslin cloth trade. Merchants came from all over the world to trade here. The Mughals also built beautiful gardens, mosques, and large forts.

Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka Bangladesh 2011 54
Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka Bangladesh 2011 54

Many important changes happened to the city over the years. Under British rule, the city got electricity and railways. It also gained new schools, colleges, and a modern water supply.

DG 21 -08 HIGH COURT DHAKA IMG 3402
DG 21 -08 HIGH COURT DHAKA IMG 3402

After British rule ended, Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan in 1947. Later, in 1971, it became the capital of the independent nation of Bangladesh. The city has grown a lot since those early days. In 2008, the city celebrated being a municipal city for 400 years.

Bengal gazetteer 1907-9
Bengal gazetteer 1907-9

Today, Dhaka is a modern and powerful global city. It is the seat of the government for all of Bangladesh. Many big companies and scientific groups are based here.

Motijheel, Dhaka, 1980s
Motijheel, Dhaka, 1980s

You can see many different types of buildings in the city. Some are very old from the Mughal and British times. Others are modern, like the huge Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

1.জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন
1.জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন

This building is the National Parliament House and a famous landmark. The city continues to grow and change every single day.

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🖼️ Images & Media (42)
File:Map of Bengal, Behar, Orissa 1813.jpg
Map of Bengal, Behar, Orissa 1813.jpg
File:Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka Bangladesh 2011 54.JPG
Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka...
File:Asiatic Society Heritage Museum.jpg
Asiatic Society Heritage Museum.jpg
File:Renaldis muslin woman.jpg
Renaldis muslin woman.jpg
File:19th century porcelain rice dish of Old Dhaka family.jpg
19th century porcelain rice dish of Old...
File:Race-course-dhaka-1890 2.jpg
Race-course-dhaka-1890 2.jpg
File:Lord Curzon at Ramna.jpg
Lord Curzon at Ramna.jpg
File:Panorama of Dacca 19th century 1.jpg
Panorama of Dacca 19th century 1.jpg
File:Bengal gazetteer 1907-9.jpg
Bengal gazetteer 1907-9.jpg
File:DG 21 -08 HIGH COURT DHAKA IMG 3402.jpg
DG 21 -08 HIGH COURT DHAKA IMG 3402.jpg
Time-lapse of the urban growth of Dhaka,...
File:Motijheel, Dhaka, 1980s.jpg
Motijheel, Dhaka, 1980s.jpg

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