Dhaka Division

Dhaka Division is a major administrative division located in Bangladesh. The city of Dhaka serves as its capital, as well as the capital of the entire country. This division is a significant population magnet for the region. It covers a total area of 20,508.8 square kilometers. Currently, the population exceeds 44 million people. It is recognized as one of the fastest growing populous administrative divisions in the world. Its population has grown at a rate of 1.94% since the previous count. This is notably higher than the national average of 1.22%.

Geographically, the division occupies a very central position. It borders every other division in Bangladesh except for the Rangpur Division. To the north, it is bounded by the Mymensingh Division. The Barisal Division sits to the south. The Chittagong Division lies to the east and south-east. To the north-east, the division meets the Sylhet Division. The Rajshahi Division forms its western border. Finally, the Khulna Division is located to the south-west.

The origins of the name "Dhaka" remain a subject of historical debate. One theory suggests it comes from the dhak tree, which was once common in the area. Another possibility is that it derives from Dhakeshwari, the patron goddess of the region. Some believe the name comes from a membranophone, which is a type of musical instrument. This instrument is called a dhak. It may have been played by order of Subahdar Islam Khan I during the 1610 inauguration of the capital. Other theories link the name to a Prakrit dialect called Dhaka Bhasa. Some sources even suggest the name means "watchtower." The Kashmiri Brahman Kalhana wrote that the region was originally known as Dhakka. This name might have referred to a watch station used for fortification.

History in this region dates back to the first millennium. In ancient times, the Greater Dhaka region was under the kingdoms of Vanga and Gangaridai. The area was once part of the ancient division of Bikrampur. This region was ruled by the Sena dynasty. The city of Bikrampur served as a capital for the Palas, Chandras, Varmans, and Devas. Later, the city of Dholsamudra in modern-day Gazipur was a capital for the Buddhist Pala Empire. Various forts were constructed in Toke and Ekdala during the sixth century. These fortifications remained in use as late as the Mughal Period.

Under Islamic rule, the administrative center moved to the historic district of Sonargaon. This area served as a hub for the Delhi and Bengal Sultanates. During the 16th century, the region known as Bhati became a site of intense warfare. The Baro-Bhuiyans rose to power here and resisted Mughal invasion. This resistance continued until Islam Khan Chisti forced their submission during the reign of Jahangir. In 1610, Dhaka became the capital of the Mughal province of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This province was known as the Bengal Subah. It covered much of modern-day Bangladesh and parts of eastern India. Dhaka was one of the richest and greatest cities in the world during this era.

The city reached its peak of prosperity under the governor Shaista Khan between 1644 and 1677. During this time, Dhaka was a center for the muslin trade. This fine cloth was so famous that it was called "daka" in markets as far away as Central Asia. An English merchant named Thomas Bowrey visited the city between 1669 and 1670. He estimated the city was 40 miles in circuit. He also estimated the population was 900,000 people. This was more populous than London at that time. The city also housed a wealthy elite under the rule of the Nawabs of Bengal. The Naib Nazim acted as the deputy governor and managed the Mughal Navy.

Significant political shifts occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries. The British moved to oust the last independent Nawab of Bengal in 1757. Following the Indian mutiny of 1857, the British crown established direct rule. In 1905, the first partition of Bengal restored Dhaka's status as a regional capital. It became the seat of government for Eastern Bengal and Assam. This jurisdiction included 30 districts across several divisions. Later, after the partition of India, Dhaka became the second capital of Pakistan. In 1962, it was formalized as the legislative capital. This era saw rapid industrialization, including the construction of the world's largest jute mill.

The physical landscape of the division has been shaped by its many administrative eras. For example, the Bhawal Estate was a massive zamindari, or landholding, in the north. At its peak, it covered over 1,500 square kilometers. This estate included 2,274 villages and roughly 55,000 villagers. On the southern side, the township of Fatehabad was located near a stream called the Dead Padma. This stream was once a channel of the Padma River. Fatehabad served as a mint town for the Bengal Sultanate until 1538. These diverse historical elements show how the Dhaka Division has evolved into a vital modern hub.