Dhaka
INTRO
The City of Mosques and Muslin:
Independence Day: March, 26th, 1971.
Bengali New Year's Day: April, 14th.
Bengali Festival: Durga Puja.
Major Waterfront: Sadarghat.
Largest Shopping Mall: Bashundhara City.
Number of Rickshaws: 400 000.
Most Popular Sport: Cricket
City Profile
City: Dhaka
Country: Bangladesh
Area: 815.85 km2
Population: 6,724,976
Districts: 21
Mayor: Sadeque Hossain Khoka
Language: Bengali
Rating:
All these facts are not just dull statistics. They comprise the throbbing and vivid image of the exotic destination of our journey: Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. One of the fastest growing cities in the world lifts you up and whirls you around in the vortex of its urban life. It wants to share with you its turbulent history, rich culture and glorified natural beauty. When it finishes its folk gazelle song and you have to leave, you do experience the full intensity of the loss and separation expressed by "the mortal cry of the gazelle".
LOCATION
Besides the fact that it is the industrial, social, political and commercial centre of the country, Dhaka represents its geographical middle. The city rests on the eastern banks of Buriganga River and is moreover situated in the lower part of the great delta of the Ganges River. It is also the principal city of Dhaka District, which covers a total area of 1463.60square kilometres.
TIME TO VISIT
The climate in the city is tropical, generally characterised by great heat and humidity. They are typical especially for Bengal summer (from March to June) and the monsoon season, which lasts between June and October. The maximum summer temperatures are about 40ºC. The colder and dryer season is from November to March with average temperatures around 26ºC in January. Because of the high humidity and bright sunshine in the summer, you might want to visit Dhaka during the cool and pleasant winter months in order to fully enjoy your stay.
POPULATION
Along with the metropolitan area, Dhaka has a population equal to 11,918,442 people. This makes it the largest city in Bangladesh and one of the most populated cities in the world. It has furthermore one of the highest rates among Asian cities in terms of population growth. The rapid growth is a result of both migration from rural areas to the urban region and the expansion of the city's boundaries. Representatives of various tribal peoples in Bangladesh form the local population. The oldest inhabitants of the city are however known as Dhakaia. Most residents speak the national language of Bengali, which has a multitude of dialects and regional variants.
DISTRICTS
The metropolis of Dhaka consists of local police precincts, called thanas. There are seven principal and fourteen auxiliary thanas. In addition to that, the city is divided into 130 wards and 725 small neighbourhoods, called mohallas. Some of the most distinctive thanas, worthy of your attention are as follows:
- Old Dhaka is the old southern part of the city. It lies on both sides of the Buriganga River and is therefore home to Dhaka's main waterfront, Sadarghat. Old Dhaka is replete with cheap cosy restaurants, traditional bazaars, pavilions, antique shops and some of the most outstanding historical monuments.
- Pantapath is a very important business district in Dhaka. It features one of the biggest shopping centres in South Asia, Bashundhara City.
- Motijheel lies at the heart of the city and is its main commercial district. It is the headquarters of a lot of banks, important government buildings, educational institutions and the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
- Gulshan is the most luxurious district in Dhaka. It is overflowing with skyscrapers, exclusive restaurants, lavish residential areas, shopping malls, foreign diplomatic missions and elite clubs. You can find many international brands and branches of multinational companies here.
- Ramna is a famous administrative district. The Secretariat, which houses most of the government ministries, and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh are located here.
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Dhaka's vibrant culture and rich historical past are clearly reflected in the nature of the tourist attractions waiting for you in this authentic city. The several hundred mosques and the significant amount of historical buildings and cultural monuments are more than enough evidence. If you are still not tempted, the outstanding parks, lakes and gardens should totally convince you.
- Lalbag Fort is the finest example of Mughal architecture in Dhaka. Also known as Fort Aurangabad, it is an incomplete palace fortress in the southwestern part of the city, overlooking the Buriganga River. It was constructed in 1678 by order of Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. It is constituted by three gateways, a 3-domed mosque, the tomb of Bibi Pari, the Hammam and the Audience Hall.
- Dhakeshwari Temple is a renowned Hindu temple, which has the status of the country's national temple. Its origins date back to the 11th century, when it was built by a king of the Sena dynasty. It is believed that the city assumed its name Dhaka after the name of the temple, which actually means "Goddess of Dhaka".
- Baitul Mukarram is considered to be the national mosque of Bangladesh. It lies at the heart of the city and was founded in the 17th century. It is a combination of both modern and traditional architectural traits. Its resemblance to the prominent Ka'abah at Makkah makes it a must see for any tourist.
- National Memorial is a historical monument, built to commemorate the memory of the millions of unknown martyrs, who died in the Liberation War in 1971. The memorial was designed by architect Moinul Hossain. It is situated in the suburb of Savar, 35 km away from Dhaka City.
- Ahsan Manzil is a prominent example of the national cultural heritage. It was the official residence of the Dhaka Nawab Family but has now been renovated and turned into a museum. It has 31 rooms, a huge dome and 23 galleries. This majestic pink palace on the banks of the Buriganga River is sure to overwhelm you with its beauty.
- National Park is located in Rajendrapur, 40 km north of Dhaka, in the spectacular Bhawal region of Dhaka-Trishal-Mymensingh highway. It is a vast 1600-acre recreational forest provided with facilities for picnics and rowing. The park is an ideal spot for lovers of nature.
AIRPORT
You can quite easily reach the city of Dhaka from most continents. There is one international airport in close proximity to the city centre.
- Zia International Airport (DAC) is the biggest and busiest airport in Bangladesh. It is located in the thana of Uttara, approximately 19 km north of Dhaka City. Metred taxis and auto-rickshaws are available close to the airport as well as an airport bus shuttle service. Some hotels offer a convenient pick-up service to their guests and you can also rent a car.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
You can get around the city of Dhaka by using several useful forms of transport.
- Cycle-rickshaws are the most popular and most suitable for short distances. They usually charge Tk5 per kilometer but make sure that you agree on a price before leaving. Have in mind that they cause a great deal of the traffic in the city.
- Auto-rickshaws ("baby taxis") are available throughout the city. They appear to be the cheapest way to cover long distances. The meters start at Tk12 and an 8 km ride should cost around Tk60.
- Taxis are yellow and black with metres. Yellow taxis are more expensive but they are considered to be safer and more comfortable. They start the meter at Tk20 whereas black taxies start at Tk15 and lack air-conditioning.
- Public buses are operated by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and private companies. They run on the main road network but are not very pleasant because they are usually awfully noisy and crowded. Fares: Tk10 - 25.
HISTORY
The settlements of Dhaka have a long history that goes back to 7th century. The city was successively ruled by Hindu dynasties, Turkish and Afghan governors before becoming the provincial capital of Bengal under Mughal rule in 1608. It wasn't until then that the city grew into a significant urban centre. During this period Dhaka was also known as Jahangir Nagar in honour of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. It passed to British rule in 1765 and became the administrative capital and biggest city of East Pakistan in 1947. The city witnessed great political unrest, strikes and violence during the Language Movement and under martial law for three years. It was the scene of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to the killing of hundreds of thousands by the Pakistan Army and to the final independence of the country in 1971.
CITY LINKS
- The Daily Star, a daily English newspaper, published in Bangladesh: http://www.thedailystar.net/
- Dhaka City Corporation: http://www.dhakacity.org/
- Useful Tips And Interesting Places: http://wikitravel.org/en/Dhaka
- City Guide: http://www.dhaka.com/
- Dhaka Stock Exchange: http://www.dsebd.org/
UNIVERSITY LINKS
- University of Dhaka, the largest and oldest university in Bangladesh: http://www.univdhaka.edu/
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, the country's premier technical university: http://www.buet.ac.bd/
- Bangladesh Agricultural University, the first agricultural university in Bangladesh: http://www.bau.edu.bd/