Introduction
The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka is the largest city in the country. It is well over twice the size of Chittagong, Bangladesh's second largest city. Dhaka lies on the Buriganga River in the center of the country. Dhaka's city streets are a sight to behold. They are jammed with a mix of cars, trucks, and thousands of colorful rickshaws, which are small three-wheeled pedal-powered vehicles.
Places of interest
Parts of Dhaka date back to the 17th century, when the city was a trading center. One of the most well-known sites in the old part of the city is Lal Bagh Fort, which was begun in 1678. The unfinished fort has a mosque, museum, and tomb. There are two historic inns, or hotels, in this area—the Bara Katra and the Chhota Katra. Built in the 17th century, these inns were used by wandering travelers on their difficult journeys. There are also many mosques in Dhaka. The Tara Masjid, or Star Mosque, was built in the 18th century and has a beautiful mosaic. The National Parliament building was designed by American architect Louis Kahn and completed in 1983.
Dhaka has many important museums. One popular one is the National Museum, which has displays about Bangladeshi history as well as folk art and crafts. The city is also a center for education. Dhaka University, started in 1921, has a large campus with some interesting old buildings. In addition, Dhaka's main sports stadium and its parks, including Ramna Park, are popular places. Dhaka also has a zoo and many lively markets.
Economy
Dhaka's economy is mainly made up of a mix of services and manufacturing. Dhaka's many factories process jute (a type of plant valued for its fiber) and make cloth, rubber, jewelry, furniture, books, shoes, leather, electrical machinery, and jamdani, which is a fine fabric. In addition, thousands of people work in government offices, private businesses, banks, schools, hospitals, and construction.
History
Dhaka has been populated since at least the 10th century AD, when a small town existed there. The area attracted settlers because it was close to the Bay of Bengal and on trading routes between India and lands to the east. There are several stories about how the city got its name. One is that it was named for the dhak tree that once grew in the area. Another story says that Dhaka was named after a goddess named Dhakeswari, to whom a shrine was built in the city in the 1600s.
In the 1600s the Mughal Empire made Dhaka the capital of the region of Bengal, and the city became very wealthy. Dhaka was a center of sea trade, attracting Asian ships as well as traders from Europe. The Mughals built forts around the river banks to protect the city. They also built mosques, palaces, and gardens in Dhaka. However, in 1704 the capital was moved to Murshidabad The muslin cloth industry slowed at about the same time. Both these events hurt Dhaka's economy, and many people left for other cities. Dhaka passed to British control in 1765.
Dhaka was made the capital of India's Eastern Bengal and Assam province in 1905. The city then grew to become a commercial center and the site of important schools. The city was made the capital of East Bengal province in 1947 and of East Pakistan in 1956. Dhaka was damaged in 1971 during the war of independence, when East Pakistan separated to become Bangladesh. After the war ended, Dhaka remained the capital of this new country. Population (1991 estimate), 3,612,850.
