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|mapsize =
|mapsize =
|map_caption = Dhaka in Bangladesh
|map_caption = Dhaka in Bangladesh
|coordinates = {{coord|23|42|N|90|22|E|region:BD-13|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates = {{coord|23|43|N|90|25C
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[Bangladesh]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Divisions of Bangladesh|Division]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Bangladesh|District]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Dhaka Division]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Dhaka District]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|established_title = Establishment
|established_date = 1608 [[Common Era|CE]]
|established_title2 = Granted city status
|established_date2 = 1947
|established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3 =
<!-- Area --------------------->
|government_footnotes =
|government_type = [[City Corporation]]
|governing_body = {{nowrap|[[Dhaka North City Corporation|DNCC]] and [[Dhaka South City Corporation|DSCC]]}}
|unit_pref =Metric <!-- Enter: Metric, if Metric (imperial) is desired -->
|area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite news |author1=Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee |author2=Mahbubur Rahman Khan |date=7 May 2016 |title=Govt to double size of Dhaka city area |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/govt-double-size-dhaka-city-area-1219972 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dhaka City expands by more than double after inclusion of 16 union councils |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/05/09/dhaka-city-expands-by-more-than-double-after-inclusion-of-16-union-councils |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=9 May 2016}}</ref>
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 306.38
|area_land_km2 =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_metro_km2 = 2161.17<ref name="wikimapia.org">http://wikimapia.org/26768999/Dhaka-Metropolitan-City-Area</ref>
|area_metro_sq_mi = 834.432<ref name="wikimapia.org">http://wikimapia.org/26768999/Dhaka-Metropolitan-City-Area</ref>
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|elevation_footnotes =<ref name="Elevation of Dhaka">{{cite web|url=http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/maps/map_city_dhaka.html|title=Dhaka, Bangladesh Map|work=National Geographic|accessdate=6 September 2009}}</ref>
|elevation_m = 4
|elevation_ft = 13.12
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|population_total = {{Increase}}14,399,000
|population_as_of =2013
|population_footnotes =<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/bangladesh-dhaka.php] sum for 41 thanas of Dhaka city, not including 5 upazilas of Dhaka district</ref><ref name="dhakapop1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/National%20Reports/Union%20Statistics.pdf |title=Population & Housing Census-2011 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |page=41 |accessdate=15 December 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208044832/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/National%20Reports/Union%20Statistics.pdf |archivedate=8 December 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>
|population_density_km2 = 29,069
|population_metro = {{nts|18,898,000}}
|population_metro_footnotes =<ref>[http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/dhaka-population/]</ref><ref name="District Statistics 2011, Dhaka">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/District%20Statistics/Dhaka.pdf|title=District Statistics 2011, Dhaka|publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics|date=December 2013|accessdate=14 May 2015|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424233706/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/District%20Statistics/Dhaka.pdf|archivedate=24 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|population_blank2_title = [[Literacy rate]]
|population_blank2 = 74.6%
|population_demonym = Dhakaiya;<br />Dhakaite
|postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Bangladesh|Postal code]]
|postal_code = 1000, 1100, 12xx, 13xx
|area_code =
|website = [http://www.dncc.gov.bd/ Dhaka North City Corporation] <br /> [http://dhakasouthcity.gov.bd/ Dhaka South City Corporation]
|footnotes =
|leader_title1 =[[Dhaka North City Corporation|DNCC Mayor]]
|leader_name1 =Vacant
|leader_title2 =[[Dhaka South City Corporation|DSCC Mayor]]
|leader_name2 =[[Sayeed Khokon]]
|population_blank1_footnotes =<ref>[http://www.newgeography.com/content/003004-evolving-urban-form-dhaka].</ref>
|population_blank2_footnotes =<ref name="District Statistics 2011, Dhaka"/>
<!-- General information --------------->
|timezone = [[Bangladesh Standard Time|BST]]
|utc_offset = +6
|blank_name = National calling code
|blank_info = +880
|blank1_name = [[Telephone numbers in Bangladesh|Calling code]]
|blank1_info = 02 [For Dhaka city only]
|blank2_name = [[Purchasing Power Parity|GDP PPP]] (2007)
|blank2_info = {{Increase}}$78&nbsp;billion<ref>{{cite web|author1=PWC|title=Which are the largest city economies in the world and how might this change by 2025?|url=https://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=1562|accessdate=25 November 2016|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504031739/https://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=1562|archivedate=4 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|blank3_name = Police
|blank3_info = [[Dhaka Metropolitan Police]]
|blank4_name = International airport
|blank4_info = [[Shahjalal International Airport|Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport]]
|blank5_name = [[ISO 3166-2:BD|ISO 3166-2]]
|blank5_info = BD-13
}}
{{stack end}}

'''Dhaka''' ({{lang-bn|ঢাকা}}, {{IPA-bn|ɖʱaka|pron}}; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɑː|k|ə}} {{respell|DAH|kə}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|æ|k|ə}} {{respell|DAK|ə}}) is the capital and largest city of [[Bangladesh]]. The name of the city was spelled as '''Dacca''', which was an [[anglicisation]] name until the current spelling was adopted in 1983 to match with Bengali pronunciation.<ref name="Choguill2012">{{cite book|last=Choguill|first=C.L.|title=New Communities for Urban Squatters: Lessons from the Plan That Failed in Dhaka, Bangladesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slvlBwAAQBAJ&pg=PR8|year=2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4613-1863-7|page=viii}}</ref> Located in an eponymous [[Dhaka District|district]] and [[Dhaka Division|division]], it lies along the east bank of the [[Buriganga River]] in the heart of the [[Bengal delta]]. The city is a [[Macrocosm and microcosm|microcosm]] of the entire country, with diverse religious and ethnic communities. Dhaka is the economic, cultural and political center of Bangladesh. It is a major financial center of South Asia. It is one of the [[List of cities by population|world's most populated cities]] and within [[List of largest cities in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member countries|OIC countries]], with a population of 18.89 million people in the [[Greater Dhaka Area]].<ref>{ url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/dhaka-population/}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="dhakapop1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/42169-013-ban-ssa.pdf |title=Sector Assessment (Summary): Urban Transport |website=Asian Development Bank}}</ref> It is also the [[List of cities by population density|4th most densely populated city]] in the world.

At the height of its medieval glory, Dhaka was regarded as one of the wealthiest and most prosperous cities in the world.<ref name="thedailystar1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/politics/which-india-claiming-have-been-colonised-119284|title=Which India is claiming to have been colonizsed?|date=31 July 2015}}</ref> It served as the capital of the Bengal province of the [[Mughal Empire]] twice (1608–39 and 1660–1704).<ref name="britannica1">{{cite web|url=http://global.britannica.com/place/Dhaka|title=Dhaka – national capital, Bangladesh}}</ref> The city's name was [[Jahangir Nagar]] (''City of [[Jahangir]]'') in the 17th century. It was central to the economy of [[Mughal Bengal]], which generated 50% of Mughal GDP.<ref name="thedailystar1"/> It was a cosmopolitan commercial center and the hub of the worldwide [[muslin]] and silk trade.

The Mughals decorated the city with well-laid out gardens, tombs, mosques, palaces and forts. Dhaka became known as the ''City of Mosques'' in Bengal.<ref name="britannica1"/> It was also described as the ''Venice of the East''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pj8cderhbr8C&pg=PA57|title=Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability|first=Michael|last=Hough|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Psychology Press|via=Google Books}}</ref> The old city was home to various [[Eurasia]]n merchant groups. The city hosted two important [[caravansary|caravansaries]] of the subcontinent: the [[Bara Katra]] and [[Choto Katra]], located on the riverfront of the [[Buriganga River|Buriganga]]. Modern Dhaka developed from the late 20th century. Between 1905 and 1912, it was the capital of British [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]].<ref name=dani>{{citation| title=Dacca – A record of its changing fortunes| first=Ahmad| last=Dani| publisher= Mrs. Safiya S Dani| year=1962| page=119| url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/22374453/Dacca-by-Ahmad-Hasan-Dani}}</ref> In 1947, after ending of British rule, it became the administrative capital of the [[East Pakistan]]. It was declared as the legislative capital of [[Pakistan]] in 1962. In 1971, it became the capital of an independent Bangladesh.

Dhaka is home to most of the local business conglomerate. Many multinational companies also maintain offices in the city. [[Dhaka Stock Exchange]] is one of the largest in South Asia in terms of trading volume and market capitalization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dsebd.org/|title=Dhaka Stock Exchange|first=Dhaka Stock|last=Exchange}}</ref> The city is home to a number of regional and [[international development|international training and development]] organizations, such as permanent secretariat of [[BIMSTEC]]. The city has the largest number of [[cycle rickshaw]]s and is known as the ''Rickshaw Capital of the World''.

== Etymology ==
The origins of the name for Dhaka are uncertain. Once ''[[Butea frondosa|dhak]]'' trees were very common in the area and the name may have originated from it. Alternatively, this name may refer to ''the hidden goddess'' [[Dhakeshwari]], whose temple is located in the south-western part of the city.<ref name="Britannica-Dhaka">{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/160598/Dhaka|work=Encyclopædia Britannica|title=Dhaka|accessdate=4 February 2013}}</ref> Another popular theory states that Dhaka refers to a [[membranophone]] instrument, ''[[Dhak (instrument)|dhak]]'' which was played by order of [[Subahdar]] [[Islam Khan I]] during the inaugurating of the Bengal capital in 1610.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Islam_Khan_Chisti|publisher=[[Banglapedia]]|title=Islam Khan Chisti|accessdate=4 February 2013}}</ref>

Some references also say that it was derived from a [[Prakrit]] dialect called Dhaka Bhasa; or Dhakka, used in the [[Rajtarangini]] for a watch-station; or it is the same as Davaka, mentioned in the [[Allahabad]] pillar inscription of [[Samudragupta]] as an eastern frontier kingdom.<ref name="banglapedia">{{cite web |last=Chowdhury |first=A.M. |publisher=Banglapedia |date=23 April 2007 |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dhaka |title=Dhaka |accessdate=23 April 2007}}</ref> According to [[Rajatarangini]] written by a Kashmiri Brahman, [[Kalhana]].<ref name="Mamoon 2010">{{cite book |last=Mamoon |first=Muntassir |authorlink=Muntassir Mamoon |year=2010 |orig-year=First published 1993 |title=Dhaka: Smiriti Bismiritir Nogori |publisher=Anannya |page=94}}</ref> the region was originally known as ''Dhakka''. The word ''Dhakka'' means ''watchtower''. [[Bikrampur]] and [[Sonargaon]]—the earlier strongholds of Bengal rulers were situated nearby. So Dhaka was most likely used as the watchtower for the fortification purpose.<ref name="Mamoon 2010" />

==History==
{{main article|History of Dhaka|Timeline of Dhaka}}

===Early history===
[[File:Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka Bangladesh 2011 54.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Ruins of [[Lalbagh Fort]]]]
[[File:Renaldis muslin woman.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A Bengali woman wearing [[muslin]] in Dhaka in 1789]]
[[File:Old Highcourt Bhaban (2).JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Old High Court Building, Dhaka|Old High Court of Dacca]]]]
The history of urban settlement in the area of modern-day Dhaka dates to the first millennium.<ref name="Britannica-Dhaka"/> The region was part of the ancient district of [[Bikrampur]], which was ruled by the [[Sena dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web
| author = Dhaka City Corporation
| date = 5 September 2006
| url = http://www.dhakacity.org/his_pre_mughal.html
| title = Pre-Mughal Dhaka (before 1608)
| accessdate = 1 December 2015
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080410184215/http://www.dhakacity.org/his_pre_mughal.html
| archivedate = 10 April 2008
}}</ref> Under [[Islamic]] rule, it became part of the historic district of [[Sonargaon]], the regional administrative hub of the [[Delhi Sultanate|Delhi]] and the [[Bengal Sultanate]]s.<ref name="archive.thedailystar.net">{{cite news |title=From Jahangirnagar to Dhaka |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2008/august/jahangirnagar.htm |deadurl=no |work=Forum |publisher=The Daily Star |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208123832/http://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2008/august/jahangirnagar.htm |archivedate=8 February 2015 |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> The Grand Trunk Road passed through the region, connecting it with [[North India]], Central Asia and the southeastern port city of Chittagong.

===15th to 18th centuries===
The [[Mughal Empire]] governed the region during the late 15th-18th century. Under Mughal rule, the [[Old Dhaka|Old City of Dhaka]] grew on the banks of the Buriganga River. Dhaka was proclaimed the capital of Mughal Bengal in 1608. [[Islam Khan I|Islam Khan Chishti]] was the first administrator of the city.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Kraas |editor-first=Frauke |editor-last2=Aggarwal |editor-first2=Surinder |editor-last3=Coy |editor-first3=Martin |editor-last4=Mertins |editor-first4=Günter |year=2013 |title=Megacities: Our Global Urban Future |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwHFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 |publisher=Springer |pages=60 |isbn=978-90-481-3417-5}}</ref> Khan named it "Jahangir Nagar" (''City of Jahangir'') in honour of the [[Jahangir|Emperor Jahangir]]. The name was dropped soon after the English conquered. The main expansion of the city took place under Mughal governor [[Shaista Khan]]. The city then measured {{convert|19|by|13|km}}, with a population of nearly one million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/bitstream/handle/10361/2055/SOC%20Report-%2005-07-12.pdf?sequence=1 |title=State of Cities: Urban Governance in Dhaka |date=May 2012 |website=BRAC University}}</ref> Dhaka was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in South Asia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shay |first=Christopher |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110815-saving-dhakas-heritage |title=Travel – Saving Dhaka's heritage |publisher=BBC |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> It grew into a regional economic center during the 15th and 18th centuries, serving as a hub for Eurasian traders, including Bengalis, [[Marwari people|Marwaris]], Kashmiris, Gujaratis, [[Armenian community of Dhaka|Armenians]], Arabs, Persians, Greeks, Dutch, French, English and the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]].<ref name="archive.thedailystar.net"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Colley |first=Linda |year=2009 |title=The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh: A Woman in World History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XjpQjWwNJHEC&pg=PT262 |publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group |pages=262– |isbn=978-0-307-53944-1}}</ref><ref>Muntassir Mamoon, Ḍhākā Nagara Jādughara. [https://books.google.com/books?id=MdoEAQAAIAAJ&q=greek+traders+in+dhaka&dq=greek+traders+in+dhaka&hl=nl&sa=X&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAGoVChMIwvej6oHuyAIVBmIPCh3Bzgzm ''Ḍhākā granthamālā''] Vol. '''11''' Ḍhākā Nagara Jādughara, 1991 (original from the [[University of California]], digitalized 2008). pp 18–20</ref> The city was a center of the worldwide [[muslin]], [[cotton]] and [[jute]] industries, with 180,000 skilled weavers.<ref name="thedailystar1" /> Mughal Bengal generated 68% of the Mughal Empire's GDP, which at the time constituted 29% of world GDP. Dhaka was the commercial capital of the empire.<ref name="thedailystar1" /> The city had well-laid out gardens, monuments, mosques, temples, bazaars, churches and [[caravansaries]]. The [[Bara Katra]] was the largest caravansary. The riverbanks were dotted with tea houses and numerous stately mansions. Eurasian traders built neighborhoods in [[Farashganj]] (French Bazaar), [[Armanitola]] (Armenian Quarter) and Postogola (Portuguese Quarter).

Bengal was an affluent region with a [[Bengali Muslim]] majority and [[Bengali Hindu]] minority, and was globally dominant in industries such as [[textile manufacturing]] and [[shipbuilding]].<ref name="tong">Junie T. Tong (2016), [https://books.google.com/books?id=_UQGDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA151 ''Finance and Society in 21st Century China: Chinese Culture Versus Western Markets'', page 151], [[CRC Press]]</ref><ref name="esposito">[[John L. Esposito]] (2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=KZcohRpc4OsC&pg=PT190 ''The Islamic World: Past and Present 3-Volume Set'', page 190], [[Oxford University Press]]</ref><ref name="ray">Ray, Indrajit (2011). [https://books.google.com/books?id=CHOrAgAAQBAJ ''Bengal Industries and the British Industrial Revolution (1757-1857)''], [[Routledge]], {{ISBN|1136825525}}</ref> The capital Dhaka had an estimated 80,000 skilled [[textile]] weavers. It was an exporter of [[silk]] and [[cotton]] textiles, [[steel]], [[saltpeter]], and [[agricultural]] and industrial produce.<ref name="thedailystar1"/>

===British colonial period===
With the defeat of the [[Nawab of Bengal]] at the [[Battle of Buxar]] in 1764, British East India company gained the right to collect taxes from the Mughal province of Bengal-Bihar. The city formally passed to the control of the British East India Company in 1793 and Dhaka got plugged into the imperial mercantile networks of the [[British Empire]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Srangio |first=Sebastian |date=1 October 2010 |title=Dhaka: Saving Old Dhaka's Landmarks |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/letters/dhaka-saving-old-dhaka’s-landmarks |magazine=The Caravan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909110251/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/letters/dhaka-saving-old-dhaka%E2%80%99s-landmarks |archive-date=9 September 2015}}</ref> With the dawn of the [[Industrial Revolution]] in Great Britain, Dhaka became a leading centre of the [[jute trade]], as Bengal accounted for the largest share of the world's [[jute]] production.<ref name="worldviewcities.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldviewcities.org/dhaka/unconcealed.html|title=WORLDVIEW}}</ref>
[[File:DhakaCity1861.png|thumb|Dhaka, or Dacca, under [[British Raj|British rule]] in 1861]]Dhaka suffered stagnation and decline began during the mid 19th-century. Its muslin industry was destroyed by high colonial taxation, restriction of trade and forced imports of British manufactured textiles. The city's weavers starved to death during [[Bengal famine of 1770|Bengal famines]].<ref name="thedailystar1" /> The rise of the colonial capital [[Calcutta]] caused a sharp decline in the city's population. Dhaka became heavily impoverished. In 1824, an Anglican bishop described Dhaka as a ''city of magnificent ruins''.<ref>Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka Bangladesh 2011 54.JPG</ref> During the [[mutiny of 1857]], the city witnessed revolts by the [[Bengal Army]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Rare-1857-reports-on-Bengal-uprisings/articleshow/4637780.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Rare 1857 reports on Bengal uprisings – The Times of India}}</ref> The [[British Raj|British Indian rule]] was established following the mutiny. It bestowed privileges on the Dhaka Nawab Family, which dominated the city's political and social elite. The [[Dhaka Cantonment]] was established as a base for the [[British Indian Army]]. The British developed the modern city around [[Ramna]], [[Shahbag]] Garden and [[Bahadur Shah Park]]. A modern civic water system was introduced in 1874.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dwasa.org.bd/index.php/home/history |title=Dhaka WASA |publisher=Dwasa.org.bd |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> The electricity supply began in 1901.<ref name="tusher.kobiraj.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.tusher.kobiraj.com/history-electricity-bangladesh.html |title=History of Electricity in Bangladesh &#124; Thcapriciousboy |publisher=Tusher.kobiraj.com |date=18 July 2013 |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Ahsan Manzil-Front View.jpg|thumb|[[Ahsan Manzil]] was once the palace of the [[Dhaka Nawab Family]]; it is now a national museum]]
By the early-20th century, Dhaka projected itself as the standard bearer of Muslim minorities in [[British India]]; as opposed to the heavily Hindu-dominated city of Calcutta.<ref name="worldviewcities.org"/> During the abortive [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|Partition of Bengal]] in 1905, Dhaka became the short lived capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam. In 1906, the [[All India Muslim League]] was formed at the [[Ahsan Manzil]], during a [[All India Muhammadan Educational Conference|conference]] on liberal education hosted by [[Khwaja Salimullah|Nawab Sir Khawja Salimullah]]. Bengal was reunited in 1911. The [[University of Dhaka|University of Dacca]] was established in 1921. DEVCO, a subsidiary of the Occtavian Steel Company, began widescale power distribution in 1930.<ref name="tusher.kobiraj.com"/>

===Pakistan period===
With the [[Partition of Bengal (1947)|Partition of British India]] in 1947, Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan. The city's population increased dramatically because of Muslim migration from across Bengal and other parts of the subcontinent, putting heavy strains on infrastructure.<ref>http://www.cdrb.org/journal/2003/3/3.pdf</ref> The [[Awami League]] was formed at the [[Rose Garden Palace]] in 1949 as the Bengali alternative to the domination of the [[Muslim League (Pakistan)|Muslim League]] in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=419012$date=2014-06-23&dateCurrent=2014-06-30 |title=News Details |publisher=Bssnews.net |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> Growing political, cultural and economic rifts emerged between the two wings of the country. The [[Bengali Language Movement]] reached its peak in 1952.<ref name="CALC">{{cite web
| title = Calcutta and Dhaka: A tale of two cities
| url = http://www.cdrb.org/journal/2003/3/3.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 29 June 2015
| last = Richards
| first = John
| publisher = Inroads
}}</ref> Dhaka remained a center of [[revolutionary]] and political activity, as student activism and demands for autonomy increased. The [[Six point movement]] in 1966 was widely supported by the city's residents. The city had an influential press, with prominent newspapers like the ''[[The Daily Ittefaq|Ittefaq]]'' and the ''[[Weekly Holiday]]''. During the political and constitutional crisis in 1971, the [[military junta]] led by [[Yahya Khan]] refused to transfer power to the newly elected National Assembly, causing mass riots, civil disobedience and a movement for [[self-determination]]. On 7 March 1971, Awami League leader [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] addressed a massive public gathering at the [[Suhrawardy Udyan|Ramna Race Course Maidan]] in Dhaka, in which he warned of an independence struggle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/culture/people-of-bangladesh/sheikh-mujibur-rahman/ |title=Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |publisher=Virtual Bangladesh |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref><ref name="CALC2">{{cite web
| url = http://www.cdrb.org/journal/2003/3/3.pdf
| format = PDF
| title = Calcutta and Dhaka: A tale of two cities
| accessdate = 29 June 2015
| last = Richards
| first = John
| publisher = Inroads
}}</ref> Subsequently, East Pakistan came under a [[Examples of civil disobedience#Bangladesh (East Pakistan)|non-co-operation]] movement against the Pakistani state. On Pakistan's Republic Day (23 March 1971), [[Flag of Bangladesh|Bangladeshi flags]] were hoisted throughout Dhaka in a show of resistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I9OyQ9mEpxkC&pg=SL1-PA125&lpg=SL1-PA125&dq=23+march+1971+republic+day+east+pakistan&source=bl&ots=-hmy1MhbL-&sig=MdFFaGdHX8SFQExJb_tLr-LiMF4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xx_iVNDYAo-zuASi7IHoDA&ved=0CCYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=23%20march%201971%20republic%20day%20east%20pakistan&f=false |title=The Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2012 – Edgar Thorpe |date=23 March 1971 |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Martyr's Monument Dhaka University Ashfaq.JPG|thumb|left|Memorial to the [[1971 Dhaka University massacre]]]]
On 25 March 1971, the [[Pakistan Army]] launched military operations under [[Operation Searchlight]] against the population of East Pakistan.<ref name="books.google.com.bd">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6XYp-z5aP4MC&pg=PA254&dq=1971+Dhaka+genocide&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kJrjVOKqOtaIuAS0h4CICA&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=1971%20Dhaka%20genocide&f=false |title=Centuries of Genocide: Essays and Eyewitness Accounts |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> Dhaka bore the brunt of the army's [[1971 Bangladesh Genocide|atrocities]], witnessing a [[1971 Bangladesh genocide|genocide]] and a campaign of widescale repression, with the arrest, torture and murder of the city's civilians, students, [[intelligentsia]], political activists and religious minorities. The army faced [[mutiny|mutinies]] from the [[East Pakistan Rifles]] and the Bengali police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EJuM4FylchwC&pg=PA732 |title=Science, Technology, Imperialism, and War |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> Large parts of the city were burnt and destroyed, including Hindu neighborhoods.<ref name="books.google.com.bd"/> Much of the city's population was either displaced or forced to flee to the countryside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1151151 |title=Fall of Dhaka: Memories of a bloody December – Pakistan |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> In the ensuing Bangladesh War of Independence, the Bangladesh Forces launched regular [[guerrilla]] attacks and ambush operations against Pakistani forces. Dhaka was struck with numerous air raids by the Indian Air Force in [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|December]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Salik |first=Siddiq |date=1997 |title=Witness to Surrender |isbn=984-05-1374-5}}</ref> Dhaka witnessed the surrender of the west Pakistan forces by [[Mitro Bahini|Bangladesh-India Allied Forces]] on 16 December 1971 with the [[surrender of Pakistan]].<ref>Jacob, Lt. Gen. JFR, Surrender at Dacca:Birth of a Nation</ref>

===After independence===
The post-independence period witnessed rapid growth as Dhaka attracted migrant workers from across rural Bangladesh. In August 1975, Sheikh Mujib was [[Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|assassinated]] in an internal coup d'état. There were further chaos and uprisings in November 1975. An actual military coup was undertaken on 24thMarch 1982 by the sitting Army chief of staff. In the 1980s, Bangladesh pioneered the formation of the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)]] and hosted its first summit in Dhaka.<ref>http://www.saarc-sec.org/userfiles/01-Dhaka-1stSummit1985.pdf</ref> A mass uprising in 1990 led to the removal of then Indian backed government and the return of [[parliamentary democracy]]. In the 1990s and 2000s, Dhaka experienced improved economic growth and the emergence of affluent business districts and satellite towns.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hossain |first=Shahadat |date=January 2008 |title=Rapid Urban Growth and Poverty in Dhaka City |url=http://www.bangladeshsociology.org/BEJS%205.1%20Rapid%20Urban%20Growth%20and%20Poverty%20final.pdf?q=dhaka |journal=Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{See also|Geography of Bangladesh}}

===Topography===
[[File:Dhaka, Bangladesh.jpg|thumb|View of Dhaka from the [[International Space Station]]]]

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh at {{Coord|23|42|N|90|22|E|type:city_region:BD|display=inline}}, on the eastern banks of the Buriganga River. The city lies on the lower reaches of the [[Ganges Delta]] and covers a total area of {{convert|306.38|km2|sqmi}}. 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.<ref>{{cite book| last = Hough|first = Michael|title = Cities and natural process|publisher = Routledge|year = 2004|pages = 64–65|isbn = 0-415-29855-5}}</ref> Dhaka District is bounded by the districts of [[Gazipur District|Gazipur]], [[Tangail District|Tangail]], [[Munshiganj District|Munshiganj]], [[Rajbari District|Rajbari]], [[Narayanganj District|Narayanganj]], [[Manikganj District|Manikganj]].

=== Climate ===
{{Main article|Climate of Dhaka}}
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Dhaka has a [[tropical savanna climate]]. The city has a distinct monsoonal season, with an annual average temperature of {{convert|26|C|F|abbr=on}} and monthly means varying between {{convert|19|C|F|abbr=on}} in January and {{convert|29|C|F|abbr=on}} in May.<ref name=weather1>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=032914&refer=/|title=Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Dhaka, Bangladesh|accessdate=15 December 2008|publisher=weatherbase.com}}</ref> Approximately 87% of the annual average rainfall of {{convert|2123|mm|in|abbr=off}} occurs between May and October.<ref name=weather1/> 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.<ref name="Geo2"/> 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.<ref name="Geo2">{{cite news
|last=Mondal
|first=M. Abdul Latif
|date=27 September 2006
|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities28.htm
|title=Our Cities: 15th Anniversary Special
|work=The Daily Star
|accessdate=27 September 2006
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302043917/http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities28.htm
|archivedate=2 March 2007
|dead-url=yes}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Dhaka
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = yes
|temperature colour =
|Jan record high C = 31.1
|Feb record high C = 34.4
|Mar record high C = 40.6
|Apr record high C = 42.2
|May record high C = 41.1
|Jun record high C = 36.7
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 36.1
|Sep record high C = 36.7
|Oct record high C = 37.2
|Nov record high C = 34.4
|Dec record high C = 30.6
|year record high C = 42.2
|Jan high C = 25.4
|Feb high C = 28.1
|Mar high C = 32.5
|Apr high C = 33.7
|May high C = 32.9
|Jun high C = 32.1
|Jul high C = 31.4
|Aug high C = 31.6
|Sep high C = 31.6
|Oct high C = 31.6
|Nov high C = 29.6
|Dec high C = 26.4
|year high C = 30.6
|Jan mean C = 19.1
|Feb mean C = 21.8
|Mar mean C = 26.5
|Apr mean C = 28.7
|May mean C = 28.7
|Jun mean C = 29.1
|Jul mean C = 28.8
|Aug mean C = 29.0
|Sep mean C = 28.8
|Oct mean C = 27.7
|Nov mean C = 24.4
|Dec mean C = 20.3
|year mean C = 26.1
|Jan low C = 12.7
|Feb low C = 15.5
|Mar low C = 20.4
|Apr low C = 23.6
|May low C = 24.5
|Jun low C = 26.1
|Jul low C = 26.2
|Aug low C = 26.3
|Sep low C = 25.9
|Oct low C = 23.8
|Nov low C = 19.2
|Dec low C = 14.1
|year low C = 21.5
|Jan record low C = 6.1
|Feb record low C = 6.7
|Mar record low C = 10.6
|Apr record low C = 16.7
|May record low C = 14.4
|Jun record low C = 19.4
|Jul record low C = 21.1
|Aug record low C = 21.7
|Sep record low C = 21.1
|Oct record low C = 17.2
|Nov record low C = 11.1
|Dec record low C = 7.2
|year record low C = 6.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 7.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 28.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 65.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 156.3
|May precipitation mm = 339.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 340.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 373.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 316.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 300.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 172.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 34.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 12.8
|year precipitation mm = 2148.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1
|Feb precipitation days = 1
|Mar precipitation days = 3
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 16
|Jul precipitation days = 12
|Aug precipitation days = 16
|Sep precipitation days = 12
|Oct precipitation days = 7
|Nov precipitation days = 1
|Dec precipitation days = 0
|year precipitation days = 86
|Jan humidity = 46
|Feb humidity = 37
|Mar humidity = 38
|Apr humidity = 42
|May humidity = 59
|Jun humidity = 72
|Jul humidity = 72
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 71
|Oct humidity = 65
|Nov humidity = 53
|Dec humidity = 50
|year humidity = 57
|Jan sun = 279
|Feb sun = 226
|Mar sun = 217
|Apr sun = 180
|May sun = 155
|Jun sun = 90
|Jul sun = 62
|Aug sun = 62
|Sep sun = 90
|Oct sun = 186
|Nov sun = 240
|Dec sun = 279
|year sun = 2066
|source 1 = Weatherbase (normals, 30 yr period)<ref name = weatherbase>{{cite web | url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=32914&units= | title = Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Dhaka, Bangladesh | publisher = Weatherbase | accessdate = 23 February 2013}}</ref>
|source 2 = Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial (extremes),<ref name=extremes>{{cite web
| url = http://www.globalbioclimatics.org/station/ba-dacca.htm | title = Bangladesh – Dacca | publisher = Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas | language = Spanish | accessdate = 23 February 2013}}</ref> BBC Weather (humidity and sun)<ref name=BBCWeather>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/1185241 | title = Average Conditions – Bangladesh – Dhaka | publisher = BBC | accessdate = 23 February 2013}}</ref>
|date=November 2012
}}

=== Parks and greenery ===
There are many parks within Dhaka city, including [[Ramna Park]], [[Suhrawardy Udyan]], [[Shishu Park]], [[National Botanical Garden of Bangladesh|National Botanical Garden]], [[Baldha Garden]], [[Chandrima Uddan]], Gulshan Park and [[Dhaka Zoo]]. There are lakes within city, such as Crescent lake, [[Dhanmondi]] lake, [[Baridhara]]-[[Gulshan, Dhaka|Gulshan]] lake, [[Banani Lake|Banani]] lake, [[Uttara Thana|Uttara]] lake and Hatirjheel-Begunbari lake.

Hatirjheel-Begunbari, which was once a slum area, has turned into a new place of recreation for city dwellers. [[Hatirjheel]] covering {{convert|320|acres|0|abbr=on}} is transformed into a place of festivity at night but with serenity settling down. However, the parks and the recreation places are often crowded and lacks security and cleanliness aspects, which is yet one of the big issues.

<gallery mode=packed caption>

File:Tomb Of Three Leader 3.A.M.R.jpg|[[Mausoleum of three leaders|Three Leaders Mausoleum]], Suhrawardy Udyan, Shahbag
File:Baldha Garden Pond.jpg|Baldha Garden, [[Old Dhaka]]
File:Crescent Lake - Chandrima Uddan (07).jpg|Crescent Lake, Parliament District
File:Bahadur Shah Park Sadarghat Dhaka 003.jpg|Khawja Hafizullah [[Obelisk]] in Bahadur Shah Park
</gallery>

==Government==

===Capital city===
[[File:Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban, Dhaka.jpg|thumb|The [[Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban|National Parliament House]] in [[Sher-e-Bangla Nagar]]]]
As the capital of the [[People's Republic of Bangladesh]], Dhaka is the home to numerous state and diplomatic institutions. The [[Bangabhaban]] is the official residence and workplace of the [[President of Bangladesh]], who is the ceremonial head of state under the [[Constitution of Bangladesh|constitution]]. The [[Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban|National Parliament House]] is located in the modernist capital complex designed by [[Louis Kahn]] in [[Sher-e-Bangla Nagar]]. The [[Gonobhaban]], the official residence of the [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh|Prime Minister]], is situated on the north side of Parliament. The [[Prime Minister's Office (Bangladesh)|Prime Minister's Office]] is located in Tejgaon. Most ministries of the [[Government of Bangladesh]] are housed in the Bangladesh Secretariat.<ref name=cabinet>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinet.gov.bd/site/page/55bcf4d6-dd85-45c1-94b6-bcb06e4b1b12/45/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B9 |title=List of Ministries and Divisions |date=20 November 2016 |publisher=cabinet.gov.bd |accessdate=27 November 2016}}</ref> The [[Supreme Court of Bangladesh|Supreme Court]], the [[Dhaka High Court]] and the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh)|Foreign Ministry]] are located in the Ramna area. The [[Ministry of Defence (Bangladesh)|Defence Ministry]] and the [[Ministry of Planning (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Planning]] are located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.<ref name=cabinet/> The [[Armed Forces Division]] of Bangladesh Government and [[Bangladesh Armed Forces]] headquarters are located in Dhaka Cantonment.<ref name=cabinet/> Several important installations of [[Bangladesh Army]] are also situated in Dhaka and Mirpur Cantonments. [[Bangladesh Navy]]'s principal administrative and logistics base [[BNS Haji Mohshin]] is located in Dhaka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil.bd/bases.php |title=Navy Bases |publisher=Bangladesh Navy |accessdate=30 January 2017}}</ref> [[Bangladesh Air Force]] maintains the BAF Bangabandhu Air Base and BAF Khademul Bashar Air Base in Dhaka.<ref>{{cite web|author=joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd |url=http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/location_baf?1=1&pagemenu=location_baf&submenu=0&leafsub=0 |title=Locations of Bangladesh Air Force Bases |publisher=joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd |accessdate=30 January 2017}}</ref>

Dhaka hosts [[List of diplomatic missions in Bangladesh|54 resident embassies and high commissions]] and numerous [[international organizations]]. Most diplomatic missions are located in [[Gulshan Thana|Gulshan]] and [[Baridhara]] area of the city. The [[Agargaon]] area near Parliament is home to the country offices of the United Nations, the [[World Bank]], the [[Asian Development Bank]] and the [[Islamic Development Bank]].

===Civic administration===
[[File:Nagar Bhaban.A.M.R.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dhaka South City Corporation|Nagar Bhaban]]]]
* [[Dhaka City Corporation]] is a self-governing corporation which runs the affairs of the city. Dhaka municipality was founded on 1 August 1864,<ref name=sum>{{cite news|title=Don't split Dhaka, Khoka urges govt|url=http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-64245|accessdate=12 September 2012|newspaper=UNBConnect|date=12 November 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405174018/http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-64245|archivedate=5 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and upgraded to "[[municipal corporation|Metropolitan]]" status in 1978. In 1983 City Corporation was created to govern Dhaka.<ref name=star052015>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/heritage/reminiscing-dhakas-legacy-80994|title=Reminiscing Dhaka's Legacy|publisher=The Daily Star|date=8 May 2015|author=Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan}}</ref> Under new act in 1993, election was held in 1994 for the first elected Mayor of Dhaka.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=163943|title=Mayor Hanif's death anniversary today|date=28 November 2010|accessdate=12 February 2015|publisher=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref> In 2011, Dhaka City Corporation was split into two separate corporations – [[Dhaka North City Corporation]] and [[Dhaka South City Corporation]] for ensuring better civic facilities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=206982|title=Dhaka set to split into two|publisher=The Daily Star|date=18 October 2011|accessdate=12 February 2015|author=Hasan Jahid Tusher}}</ref> These two corporations are headed by two two mayor, who are elected by direct vote of the citizen for a 5-year period. Area within city corporations divided into several wards, which each have an elected commissioner. In total the city has 130 wards and 725 ''[[mohalla]]s''.
* [[Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha|RAJUK]] is responsible for coordinating [[urban area|urban]] [[Urban planning|development]] in [[Greater Dhaka]] area.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Islam|first1=Md Asraful|title=Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Rajdhani_Unnayan_Kartripakkha|website=Banglapedia|accessdate=26 July 2015}}</ref>
* [[Dhaka Metropolitan Police|DMP]] is responsible for maintaining law & order within the metro area. It was established in 1976. DMP has 56 police stations as administrative units.<ref name="A">{{cite web|title=History of the DMP|url=http://www.dmp.gov.bd/application/index/page/history|publisher=[[Dhaka Metropolitan Police]]|accessdate=18 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="Z">{{cite web|title=DMP&nbsp;– New Initiatives|url=http://www.dmp.gov.bd/static/new_initiative.php|publisher=Dhaka Metropolitan Police|accessdate=30 September 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916060427/http://www.dmp.gov.bd/static/new_initiative.php |archivedate=16 September 2010 |dead-url=yes}}</ref>

===Administrative agencies===
Unlike other mega cities around the world, Dhaka is serviced by over two dozen government organizations under different ministries. Lack of co-ordination among them and centralization of all powers by the Government of Bangladesh, keeps the development and maintenance of the city in a chaotic situation.<ref name="[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/what-should-we-do-better-civic-services-205963|title=What should we do for better civic services|date=23 January 2016|accessdate=18 June 2016}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Agency!!Service!!Parent agency
|-
|[[Dhaka North City Corporation]]<br />[[Dhaka South City Corporation]]
|[[Public service]]
|[[Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives]]<br />&nbsp;∟ Local Government Division
|-
|[[Dhaka Metropolitan Police]]
|[[Law enforcement]]
|[[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]<br />&nbsp;∟ [[Bangladesh Police]]
|-
|[[Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha|RAJUK]]
|[[Urban planning]]
|[[Ministry of Housing and Public Works]]
|-
|[[Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited]]<br />Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited
|[[Power distribution]]
|[[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources]]<br />&nbsp;∟ Power Division
|-
|[[Water Supply and Sewerage Authority|Dhaka WASA]]
|[[Water supply]]
|[[Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives]]<br />&nbsp;∟ Local Government Division
|-
|Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority
|Transportation
|[[Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges]]<br />&nbsp;∟Road Transport and Highways Division
|}

== Economy ==
{{See also|Economy of Dhaka|Economy of Bangladesh|List of companies of Bangladesh|List of banks in Bangladesh}}
[[File:ORION Group constructed the highest building in the country City Centre.jpg|thumb|[[City Centre Bangladesh|City Centre]] – currently the tallest building of Bangladesh, at [[Motijheel]] business district in Dhaka]]

Dhaka is the economic and business center of the country. The city is the seat of the country's central bank [[Bangladesh Bank]] and the [[Dhaka Stock Exchange]]. It has one of the largest concentrations of multinational companies in South Asia. [[Motijheel]] & [[Dilkusha, Dhaka|Dilkusha]] is the main business district of the city. Commercial offices are also located at [[Kawran Bazar]], Mirpur, [[Mohakhali]], [[Gulshan, Dhaka|Gulshan]], Bashundhara, Uttara and [[Banani Model Town|Banani]] area of the city. Education, healthcare, engineering and consultancy services are major sectors of city's economy. Administrative and security services are also concentrated in the city, due to numerous institutions of the Government of Bangladesh.

Major Bangladeshi companies headquartered in the Dhaka include [[Beximco]], [[Rahimafrooz]], Summit, [[Biman Bangladesh Airlines]], [[Petrobangla]], [[Akij|Akij Group]], [[Bashundhara Group]], [[Jamuna Group]], [[Transcom Group]], [[Aarong]], [[PRAN|PRAN-RFL Group]] and [[Square Pharmaceuticals]] among others. Dhaka is the center of the [[Bangladesh textile industry]]. The technologically advanced [[Pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh|Bangladeshi pharmaceutical industry]] is also concentrated in Dhaka.
[[File:Jamuna Future Park exterior.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jamuna Future Park]] at Kuril, [[Baridhara]] in Dhaka, which is the largest shopping mall in South Asia]]
Industrial belts within [[Greater Dhaka]] is a major manufacturing hub, bounded by the [[Buriganga]], [[Meghna]], [[Dhaleshwari]], Balu and [[Turag]] Rivers. The city has a growing middle class, driving the market for modern consumer and luxury goods.<ref name="banglapedia" /><ref name="CiE" /> [[Restaurants]], shopping malls and luxury hotels continue to serve as vital elements in the city's economy. The city has historically attracted numerous migrant workers.<ref name="EDemo1">{{cite web
|last=McGee
|first=Terry
|date=27 September 2006
|url=http://www.prb.org/Articles/2001/UrbanizationTakesonNewDimensionsinAsiasPopulationGiants.aspx
|title=Urbanization Takes on New Dimensions in Asia's Population Giants
|publisher=Population Reference Bureau
|accessdate=27 September 2006}}</ref> [[Hawker centre|Hawkers]], peddlers, small shops, [[Cycle rickshaw|rickshaw]] transport, roadside vendors and stalls employ a large segment of the population<ref name="EDemo1"/><ref name="Rick"/> – rickshaw-drivers alone number as many as 400,000.<ref>{{cite book|author=Robert Cervero|title=Informal Transport in the Developing World|page=39|publisher=UN-HABITAT|year=2000|isbn=92-1-131453-4}}</ref> Half the workforce is employed in household and unorganised labour, while about 800,000 work in the textile industry. The unemployment rate in Dhaka was 23% in 2013.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Dhaka City Corporation
|url=http://www.dhakacity.org/Page/Search_item_details/Search/Item_id/31/Item/employment/Dhaka_City_At_a_Glance
|title=Dhaka City at a Glance
|accessdate=1 December 2015
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115171206/http://www.dhakacity.org/Page/Search_item_details/Search/Item_id/31/Item/employment/Dhaka_City_At_a_Glance |archivedate=15 January 2013 |dead-url=yes}}</ref> Dhaka has improved [[Traffic congestion|congestion]] and inadequate infrastructure; the national government has recently implemented a policy for rapid urbanization of surrounding areas and beyond by the introduction of a ten-year relief on [[income tax]] for new construction of facilities and buildings outside Dhaka.<ref name=townplan>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=62337 |title=Town planning for Bangladesh: Vision 2020 |date=8 November 2008 |work=The Daily Star |accessdate=15 December 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Gulshan Lake,Dhaka North (Left Gulshan Neighborhood , Right Badda Neighborhood).jpg|thumb|Gulshan Lake, Dhaka North (Left Gulshan Neighborhood, Right Badda Neighborhood)]]

== Demographics ==
{{See also|Demographics of Bangladesh}}
[[File:dhaka.ogg|thumb|right|NASA animation showing the urban growth of Dhaka from 1972 to 2001.]]
The city, in combination with localities forming the wider metropolitan area, is home to over 15&nbsp;million {{as of|2013|lc=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Newgeography.com |url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/003004-evolving-urban-form-dhaka |title=Evolving Urban Form: Dhaka |accessdate=26 June 2013}}</ref> The population is growing by an estimated 4.2% per year, one of the highest rates amongst the Asian cities.<ref name="EDemo1"/> 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.<ref name="EDemo1"/> According to the [[Far Eastern Economic Review]], Dhaka will be home to 25 million people by the end of 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/HE20Aa01.html |title=Planet of Slums by Mike Davis |work=Asia Times |date=20 May 2006 |accessdate=8 May 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Bayt al Mukarram.jpg|thumb|left|[[Baitul Mukarram]] [[National Mosque]]]]
[[File:Dhakeshwari temple main structure from side by Ragib Hasan.jpg|thumb|[[Dhakeshwari National Temple]]]]
[[File:Dhaka, Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.JPG|thumb|left|[[St. Mary's Cathedral, Dhaka]]]]
The literacy rate in Dhaka is also increasing quickly. It was estimated at 69.2% in 2001. The literacy rate had gone up to 74.6% by 2011<ref name="District Statistics 2011, Dhaka"/> which is significantly higher than the national average of 51.77%.<ref name="bangladesh1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/SubjectMatterDataIndex/YB-2012.pdf|title=Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh 2012, Page 35|publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics|accessdate=14 May 2015|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807103320/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/SubjectMatterDataIndex/YB-2012.pdf|archivedate=7 August 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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 and 20,000 of the [[Rohingya people|Rohingya]], [[Santals|Santal]], [[Khasi people|Khasi]], [[Garo (tribe)|Garo]], [[Chakma people|Chakma]] and [[Mandi State|Mandi]] tribal peoples reside in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities06.htm |title=::Our Cities::15th Anniversary Special |work=The Daily Star |accessdate=8 May 2010|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070302043551/http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities06.htm|archivedate=2 March 2007 |dead-url=yes}}</ref> Dhaka also has a large population of European, [[Chinese people in Bangladesh|Chinese]], Korean, [[Indians in Bangladesh|Indian]], Pakistani, [[Nepali people|Nepali]], Burmese and [[Sri Lankan people|Sri Lankan]] expatriates working in executive jobs in different industries. Dhaka is also home to over 300,000 Bihari refugees, who are descendants of migrant [[Muslims]] from eastern India during 1947 and settled down in East Pakistan. The correct population is ambiguous; although official figures estimate at least 40,000 residents,<ref name=fe>{{cite news|title=Govt ready to offer nationality to Urdu-speaking people: Moni|url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=110539|accessdate=12 April 2011|newspaper=The Financial Express|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104171314/http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=110539|archivedate=4 November 2011}}</ref> it is estimated that there are at least 300,000 Urdu-speakers in all of Bangladesh, mostly residing in refugee camps in Dhaka.<ref name=dw>{{cite web|title=Socio-economic Problems of the Urdu Speaking Residents at Mohammadpur|url=http://www.dwatch-bd.org/ggtp/Research%20Reports/research3.pdf|publisher=Democracy Watch|accessdate=12 April 2011}}</ref><ref name=ju>{{cite web|last=Persoob |first=Tasmia |title=The Forgotten Community: Camp Based Urdu Speaking People in Bangladesh |url=http://akira-foundation.org/Documents/fellow%20product%20%28Tasmia%29.pdf |publisher=Jahangirnagar University |accessdate=12 April 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322152732/http://akira-foundation.org/Documents/fellow%20product%20%28Tasmia%29.pdf |archivedate=22 March 2012 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref>

[[Bengali language|Bengali]], the national language, is spoken by the predominant majority population of Dhaka. English is the principal second language and widely spoken by educated peoples. There is a minority [[Urdu]]-speaking population from India and Pakistan.
[[Islam in Bangladesh|Islam]] is the dominant religion of the city, with 90% of the population being Muslim, and a majority belonging to the [[Sunni]] sect. There is also a small [[Shia]] sect, and an [[Ahmadi]]ya community. [[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hinduism]] is the second-largest religion and comprises 8.2% of the population. Smaller segments practice [[Christianity in Bangladesh|Christianity]] and [[Buddhism in Bangladesh|Buddhism]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/Census2011/Dhaka/Dhaka/Dhaka_C13.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20141113213203/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/Census2011/Dhaka/Dhaka/Dhaka_C13.pdf |dead-url=yes |archive-date=13 November 2014 |title=Population Census 2011: Dhaka Table C-13 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |format=PDF |accessdate=11 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><!-- Summing Dhaka City Corporation wards, total population: {{formatnum:6970105}} Muslim: {{formatnum:5715486}} (82%), Hindu: {{formatnum:1115216}} (16), Christian: 34,850 (0.5%), Buddhist: 34,860 (0.5%), Others: 69,701 --> The city also has [[Ismaili]], [[Sikh]], Hrishi & Bahá'í Faith communities.

== Culture ==
{{main article|Culture of Dhaka}}

===Arts and festivals===
[[File:Shaheed Minar on 21st February.jpg|thumb|The [[Shaheed Minar, Dhaka|Central Shaheed Minar]] on [[Language Movement Day]]]]
As the most populous city of Bangladesh, Dhaka has a vibrant cultural life. Annual celebrations for [[Bangladeshi Independence Day|Independence Day]] (26 March), [[Language Movement Day|Language Martyrs' Day]] (21 February) and [[Victory Day (Bangladesh)|Victory Day]] (16 December) are prominently celebrated across the city. Dhaka's people congregate at the [[Shaheed Minar, Dhaka|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.<ref name = "Cul"/>

''[[Pohela Baishakh]]'', the Bengali New Year, falls annually on 14 April and is popularly celebrated across the city.<ref name="Cul">{{cite web
|last=Ahmed
|first=Dr. Nizamuddin
|date=27 September 2006
|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities01.htm
|title=Happy 400th anniversary, Dhaka!
|work=The Daily Star
|accessdate=27 September 2006
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302091655/http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities01.htm |archivedate=2 March 2007 |dead-url=yes}}</ref> Large crowds of people gather on the streets of Shahbag, Ramna Park and the campus of the University of Dhaka for celebrations. [[Pahela Falgun]] ({{lang-bn|পহেলা ফাল্গুন }}, first day of [[Spring (season)|Spring]] of Bengali month [[Falgun]], of the [[Bengali calendar]], also celebrated in the city in a festive manner.<ref name=history>{{cite news|title=Pohela Falgun celebrated |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=174151/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=14 February 2011}}</ref> This day is marked with colourful celebration and traditionally, women wear yellow saris to celebrate this day. This celebration is also known as ''Basanta Utsab'' ({{lang-bn|বসন্ত উৎসব }}; ''Spring Festival''). [[Nabanna]] is a celebration for harvest, usually celebrated with food and dance and music on the 1st day of the month of Agrahayan of Bengali year. Birthdays of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam are observed respectively as [[Rabindra Jayanti]] and [[Nazrul Jayanti]]. [[Ekushey Book Fair]], which is arranged each year by [[Bangla Academy]] and takes place for the whole month of February. This event is dedicated to the martyrs who died on 21 February 1952 in a demonstration calling for the establishment of [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as one of the state languages of former [[Historical regions of Pakistan|East Pakistan]].

[[Muslim]] festivals of [[Eid ul-Fitr]], [[Eid ul-Adha]], [[Mawlid|Eid-E-Miladunnabi]] and [[Muharram]]; Hindu festivals of [[Durga Puja]], Buddhist festival of [[Buddha Purnima]]; and Christian festival of [[Christmas]] witness widespread celebrations across the city.
[[File:Pohela boishakh.jpg|thumb|[[Pohela Boishakh|Bengali New Year]] celebrations]]

The most popular dressing style for women are ''[[sari|sarees]]'' or ''[[salwar kameez]]'', while men usually prefer western clothing to the traditional ''[[lungi]]'' with [[Kurta|Panjabi]]. [[Jamdani]] saree of Dhaka is part of its cultural heritage, originate from the [[Mughal era]]. Jamdani sarees are 100% hand weaved and a single saree may take as long as 3&nbsp;months to complete.<ref name="troy">{{Cite journal
| last = Roy
| first = Tirthankar
| title = Out of Tradition: Master Artisans and Economic Change in Colonial India
| journal = The Journal of Asian Studies
| volume = 66
| pages = 963–991
| publisher=Cambridge University Press
| year = 2007
| doi=10.1017/s002191180700126x}}</ref>

Despite the growing popularity of music groups and rock bands, traditional [[Music of Bangladesh|folk music]] remains widely popular.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Thomas Angotti & Lothar Beckel|title=Mega Cities|page=730|publisher=GEOSPACE Beckel Satellitenb|year=2001|isbn=3-85313-051-8}}</ref> The works of the national poet [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] and national anthem writer [[Rabindranath Tagore]] have a widespread following across Dhaka.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Alison Arnold|title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: The Indian Subcontinent|pages=858–859|publisher=Routledge|year=1999|isbn=0-8240-4946-2}}</ref> The Baily Road area is known as ''Natak Para'' (Theatre Neighbourhood) which is the center of Dhaka's thriving theatre movement.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Ian Herbert & Nicole Leclercq|title=The World of Theatre|page=12|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2000|isbn=0-415-23866-8}}</ref> Indian and Western music and films are popular with large segments of Dhaka's population.<ref>{{Cite book|author=A. F. Salahuddin Ahmed & Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury|title=Bangladesh, National Culture, and Heritage: An Introductory Reader|page=405|publisher=Independent University|year=2004|isbn=984-8509-00-3}}</ref>

For much of recent history, Dhaka was characterized by roadside markets and small shops that sold a wide variety of goods.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Jeremy Seabrook|title=In the Cities of the South: Scenes from a Developing World|page=221|publisher=Verso Books|year=1996|isbn=1-85984-081-7}}</ref> Recent years have seen the widespread construction of shopping malls.<ref>{{Cite book|title=World and Its Peoples|page=489|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Corporation|year=2008|isbn=0-7614-7631-8|author=}}</ref> Two of the largest shopping malls in Dhaka and perhaps in the Indian subcontinent are [[Jamuna Future Park]] and [[Bashundhara City]] shopping mall.

===Cuisines===
[[File:Fuchka by Mahbub Hasan.JPG|thumb|''[[Panipuri|Fuchka/ফুচকা]]''- a popular street food of Dhaka]]
[[File:Bhapha Pitha-ভাপা পিঠা.jpg|thumb|Bhapha Pitha-ভাপা পিঠা]]
{{See also|Bangladeshi cuisine}}
Dhaka is reputed for its unique traditional festivities and food delicacies from way back. It hosts a wide-ranging menu of distinctive dishes many of which were introduced during the regime of Sultani and Mughal Period. Due to different ruling periods, the cuisine of Dhaka is versatile and with a rich culinary tradition.

Like other parts of the country, everyday meals generally include plain steamed rice as staple food with fish, meat, vegetable curries and lentil soup is common accompaniment. Plain rice is often replaced by roti or parata. [[Curry]] is the most popular style of preparing dishes.

But Old Dhaka area has its own unique food tradition, known as '''Dhakaiya food'''. Old Dhaka is famous for its ''Morog (Chicken) [[Pilaf|Pulao]]'', its different from traditional biriyani by using both tumeric and ''[[malai]]'' or cream of milk together.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/living-and-lifestyle/treasures-bangladeshi-cuisine-1366105|title=Treasures of Bangladeshi cuisine|date=2017-02-24|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-03-01|language=en}}</ref> Famous dishes of [[Old Dhaka]] are kebabs, naans, bakharkhani, kachchi and pakki biriyani, haleem, mutton bhuni kichuri, mutton tehari etc. Dhakai [[Bakarkhani]] is the traditional food or 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]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Melvin Ember, Carol R. Ember|title=Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures : Cayenne-Kyoto: Cities and Cultures Around the World |page=147|publisher=Grolier|year=2002|isbn=0-7172-5698-7}}</ref>
Along with [[Cuisine of Bangladesh|Bangladeshi cuisine]] and [[South Asian cuisine|South Asian variants]], a large variety of [[Western cuisine|Western]] and [[Chinese cuisine]] is served at numerous restaurants and eateries.<ref name="CiE">{{cite news
|last=Lawson
|first=Alistair
|date=1 June 2002
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2018535.stm
|title=Good times for bourgeois Bangladeshis
|publisher=BBC News
|accessdate=2 October 2006
}}</ref> Often many restaurants customize fusion dishes which blends foreign and local cuisines to meet local taste. Local and international fast food shops and chains serve burgers, fries and other readily available foods. Street foods like ''Burhani'', ''[[Lassi]]'' and ''[[Phuchka]]'' are highly popular among locals and tourists. Chita Pitha/ছিটা পিঠা & Bhapha Pitha/ভাপা পিঠা, a type of easy cake, made from rice flour also popular as street food.
[[Fast food restaurant|fast-food chains]] like A&W, Burger King, KFC, Nando's, Pizza Hut, Pizza Inn and Sbarro have opened up their outlets in major areas of the city. Dhaka's delicacies such as [[Biriani]] from ''Haji's'', ''Nanna's'' and ''Fakhruddin'', ''Dhaka Cheese'', ''Star [[Kabab]]'' still remain popular for dine. The city has numerous venerable Bengali confectionery chains, including ''Banoful'', ''Alauddin'', ''Bikrampur Mishti Bhandar'' and ''Rashmela

===Architectural landmarks and museums===
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Dhaka}}
[[File:Lalbager Kella.jpg|thumb|right|View of [[Lalbagh Fort]]]]
Dhaka is home to over 2000 buildings built between the 16th and 19th centuries, which form an integral part of Dhaka's cultural heritage. Such as [[Binat Bibi Mosque]], [[Lalbagh Fort]], [[Ahsan Manzil]], [[Star Mosque|Tara Mosque]], [[Chawk Mosque]], [[Hussaini Dalan]], [[Armenian Church, Dhaka|Armenian Church]], [[Curzon Hall]], [[Dhaka Gate]], [[Dhanmondi Shahi Eidgah]], [[Rose Garden Palace]], [[Choto Katra]], [[Bara Katra]], [[Dhakeshwari Temple]], [[Swami Bagh Temple]], [[Ramna Kali Mandir]], [[Holy Rosary Church, Dhaka|Holy Rosary Church]], [[Pogose School]]. There are still many colonial buildings at [[Dhaka Sadarghat]], [[Armanitola]], [[Farashganj]] areas of [[Old Dhaka]]. [[Binat Bibi Mosque]] was built in 1454 at Narinda area of Dhaka during the reign of the Sultan of Bengal, [[Mahmud Shah (Sultan of Bengal)|Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah]] (r. 1435 – 1459),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.tcl?site_id=7368 |title=Binat Bibi Mosque |publisher=ArchNet Digital Library |accessdate=18 September 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060301041726/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.tcl?site_id=7368 |archivedate=1 March 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> which is the oldest brick structure that still exists in the city.<ref>[http://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2008/august/jahangirnagar.htm ''From Jahangirnagar to Dhaka'' by Faruque Hasan in ''The Daily Star'']</ref> Important landmark buildings constructed during British rule include [[Old High Court Building, Dhaka|Old Highcourt]] building, [[Bangabhaban]], [[Curzon Hall]] and [[Mitford Hospital, Dhaka|Mitford Hospital]].
[[File:Swadhinata Stambha in 2014.jpg|thumb|right|[[Swadhinata Stombho|Independence Monument]]]]
Architect [[Louis Kahn|Louis I Kahn]]'s acclaimed modernist [[Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban|National Capital Complex]], based on the geography and heritage of Bengal, was inaugurated in Dhaka in 1982 as one of the largest [[legislative]] complexes in the world, comprising 200 acres (800,000 m²).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ali |first1=Meer Mobashsher |last2=Rouf |first2=Md Abdur |year=2012 |chapter=Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Jatiya_Sangsad_Bhaban |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> Designed by American architect [[Robert Boughey]], [[Kamalapur railway station]] is another architectural marvel, which was constructed in the early 1960s and started its operation from 1969. Independence Monument ({{lang-bn|স্বাধীনতা স্তম্ভ}}) is a new landmark, which was built to commemorate the historical events that took place in the [[Suhrawardy Udyan]] during the [[Liberation War of Bangladesh]].

There are many museums in the city. Such as [[Ahsan Manzil]], [[Bangladesh National Museum]], [[Museum of Independence, Dhaka|Museum of Independence]], [[Liberation War Museum]], [[National Museum of Science and Technology (Bangladesh)]], Bangabandhu Memorial Museum etc.

===Media===
Dhaka is also the press, media and entertainment center of Bangladesh. [[Bangladesh Betar]] is the state-run primary provider of radio services, and broadcasts a variety of programming in Bengali and English. Radio transmission started in Dhaka on 16 December 1939. In recent years many [[List of Bangladeshi television and radio channels#Privately owned radio stations|private radio networks]], especially FM radio services, have been established in the city such as [[Radio Foorti]] FM 88.0, [[Radio Aamar]] FM 88.4, [[ABC Radio (Bangladesh)|ABC Radio]] FM 89.2, [[Radio Today]] FM 89.6, [[DhakaFM 90.4]], [[Peoples Radio 91.6 FM]], [[Radio Bhumi]] FM 92.8, [[City FM 96.0]] etc. [[Bangladesh Television]] is the state-run broadcasting network that provides a wide variety of programmes in Bengali and English. It started broadcasting on 25 December 1964. It also operates a sister channel ''BTV World'' since 2004. [[Sangsad Bangladesh Television|Sangsad Bangladesh]] is another government-owned TV channel that broadcasts parliamentary activity of Bangladesh since 25 January 2011. [[List of television stations in Bangladesh|Cable and satellite networks]] such as [[ATN Bangla]], [[ATN News]], [[Banglavision]], [[Channel i]], [[Channel 9 (Bangladesh)|Channel 9]], [[Ekushey Television]], [[Gaan Bangla]], [[Gazi Television]], [[Independent Television (Bangladesh)|Independent TV]], [[NTV (Bangladesh)|NTV]], [[RTV (Bangladesh)|RTV]] and [[Somoy TV]] are amongst the most popular channels. The main offices of most publishing houses in Bangladesh are based in Dhaka. Dhaka is home to the largest [[List of newspapers in Bangladesh|Bangladeshi newspapers]], including the leading Bengali dailies ''[[Prothom Alo]]'', ''[[The Daily Ittefaq|Ittefaq]]'', ''[[Inqilab]]'', ''[[Janakantha]]'', ''[[Amar Desh]]'' and ''[[Jugantor]]''. The leading English-language newspapers include ''[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]'', ''[[Dhaka Tribune]]'', ''[[The Financial Express (Bangladesh)|The Financial Express]]'', ''[[The Independent (Bangladesh)|The Independent]]'' and ''[[New Age (Bangladesh)|New Age]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|author=John Simpson|title=The Traveler's Handbook|page=195|publisher=Globe Pequot|year=2006|isbn=0-7627-4090-6}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{See also|Education in Bangladesh}}
[[File:Curzon hall front.jpg|thumb|[[Curzon Hall]] in the University of Dhaka]]
Dhaka has the largest number of schools, colleges and universities of any Bangladeshi city. The education system is divided into 5 levels: Primary (from grades 1 to 6), Junior (from grades 6 to 8), Secondary (from grades 9 to 10), Higher Secondary (from grades 11 to 12) and tertiary.<ref name=CompEd>{{cite book|author=T. Neville Postlethwaite|title=The Encyclopedia of Comparative Education and National Systems of Education|page=130|publisher=Pergamon Press|year=1988|isbn=0-08-030853-8}}</ref> The five years of Primary education concludes with a Primary School Completion (PSC) Examination, the three years of Junior education concludes with [[Junior School Certificate]] (JSC) Examination, and next two years of 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 School Certificate]] (HSC) Examination.<ref name=CompEd/> Education is mainly offered in [[Bengali language|Bengali]], but English is also widely taught and used. Many Muslim families send their children to attend part-time courses or even to pursue full-time religious education alongside other subjects, which is imparted in Bengali and Arabic in [[List of schools in Bangladesh#Dhaka|schools]], colleges and [[Madrasa#Bangladesh|madrasas]].<ref name=CompEd/>

[[File:Civil Engineering Building of BUET seen from EME Building.JPG|thumb|Civil Engineering Building of [[Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology|BUET]]]]
There are [[List of universities in Bangladesh|52 universities]] in Dhaka. [[Dhaka College]] is the oldest institution for higher education in the city and among the earliest established in [[British Raj|British India]], founded in 1841. Since independence, Dhaka has seen the establishment of numerous public and private colleges and universities that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as a variety of doctoral programmes.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Growth of academic institutions|author=Kamal Siddiqui|title=Social Formation in Dhaka City: A Study in Third World Urban Sociology|page=42|publisher=University Press Limited|location=Dhaka|year=1990}}</ref> [[University of Dhaka]] is the oldest public university<ref>{{cite news|title=Dhaka teachers on violence charge|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7138123.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=11 December 2007|accessdate=15 May 2008}}</ref> in the country which has more than 30,000 students and 1,800 faculty staff. It was established in 1921 being the first university in the [[East Bengal|region]]. The university has 23 research centers and 70 departments, faculties and institutes.<ref name="DhakaU">{{cite web|author=University of Dhaka.03710. |date=10 September 2006|url=http://www.univdhaka.edu/fastFacts.php|title=Univ. Facts|format=PHP|accessdate=10 September 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904074222/http://www.univdhaka.edu/fastFacts.php|archivedate=4 September 2006}}</ref> Eminent seats of higher education include [[Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology]] (BUET), [[Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University]] (BSMMU), [[Jagannath University]] and [[Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University]]. [[Dhaka Medical College and Hospital|Dhaka Medical College]] and [[Sir Salimullah Medical College]] are two of the best [[Medical Colleges of Bangladesh|medical colleges]] in the nation.<ref>{{cite book|author=Muhammad Shamsul Huq|title=Higher Education and Employment in Bangladesh|page=181|publisher=UNESCO|year=1983}}</ref> Founded in 1875, '''Dhaka Medical School''' was the first medical school in Bangladesh (then British East Bengal), which became [[Sir Salimullah Medical College]] in 1962.<ref>{{citation
|author=Shahida Alam
|chapter=Mitford Hospital
|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mitford_Hospital
|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> Other government medical colleges are [[Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College]] and [[Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh|Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka]].
[[File:Shahbag PG Hospital by Ragib Hasan.jpg|thumb|right| A block of [[Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University|BSMMU]] in Dhaka]]

Alongside public institutes of higher education there are some forty-five private universities in Dhaka. Notable private universities are
[[North South University]], [[East West University (Dhaka, Bangladesh)|East West University]], [[University of Asia Pacific]], [[American International University – Bangladesh]], [[BRAC University]], [[Primeasia University]], [[United International University]] and [[Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology]] ''(see:[[List of universities in Bangladesh]])'', most of which are located in Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Bashundhara, Uttara and Dhanmondi areas of the city.

The [[British Council]] plays an important role helping students to achieve [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSE]] and [[A Level]] qualifications from [[examination boards in the United Kingdom]]. This is in addition to holding several examinations for professional bodies in the United Kingdom, including the UK medical Royal Colleges and Accountancy.

== Sports ==
[[File:Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium]], [[Mirpur Model Thana|Mirpur]]]]
[[Cricket]] and [[Association football|football]] are the two most popular sports in Dhaka and across the nation.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Bangladesh|title=The New Encyclopædia Britannica|editor=Robert MacHenry|page= 717|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|year=1993|isbn=0-85229-571-5}}</ref> Teams are fielded in intra-city and national competitions by many schools, colleges and private entities. The [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Mohammedan Sporting Club]] and [[Abahani Limited Dhaka|Abahani]] are two of the most famous football and cricket teams, maintaining a fierce rivalry, especially in the [[Bangladesh Football Premier League]].<ref name="starsport">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/17/d70617040133.htm|title=Tasty derby drawn|author=Al Musabbir Sadi|work=The Daily Star|date=17 June 2007}}</ref> [[Dhaka Metropolis cricket team]] represents Dhaka city in the [[National Cricket League]], a region-based domestic [[first-class cricket]] competition in Bangladesh. [[Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League|Dhaka Premier League]] is the only domestic [[List A cricket]] tournament now in Bangladesh. It gained List A status in [[2013–14 Bangladeshi cricket season|2013–14 season]].<ref>{{cite web
|publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/669635.html |title=Revamped Dhaka League ready for kick-off |accessdate=30 January 2017 }}</ref> In domestic [[Twenty20]] cricket, Dhaka has a [[Bangladesh Premier League|BPL]] franchise known as [[Dhaka Dynamites]].

Dhaka has the distinction of having hosted the first official [[Test cricket]] match of the [[Pakistan cricket team]] in 1954 against India.<ref name="First test">{{cite news
|publisher=ESPNcricinfo
|date=7 September 2006
|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/ground/56661.html
|title=Stadium
|accessdate=26 May 2006
}}</ref> The [[Bangabandhu National Stadium]] was formerly the main venue for domestic and international cricket matches, but now exclusively hosts football matches.<ref name="First test" /> It was used during Pakistan colonial era for Test matches when no Bengalis were selected in team and a matting pitch was used. It hosted the opening ceremony<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9400288.stm|title=Cricket World Cup: Grand ceremony launches tournament|publisher=BBC|date=17 February 2011}}</ref> of the [[2011 Cricket World Cup]] while the [[Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium]], exclusively used for cricket, hosted 6 matches of the tournament including two [[2011 Cricket World Cup knockout stage#Quarter-finals|quarter-final]] matches.<ref name="2011WC">{{cite news
|publisher=ESPNcricinfo
|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/series/381449.html
|title=ICC Cricket World Cup 2010/11 / Results
|accessdate=20 June 2011
}}</ref> Dhaka has also hosted the [[South Asian Games]] three times, in [[1985 South Asian Games|1985]], [[1993 South Asian Games|1993]] and [[2010 South Asian Games|2010]]. Dhaka is the first city to host the games three times. The Bangabandhu National Stadium was the main venue for all three editions.<ref name=news1>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/sports/news/2009-02/18/content_17295836.htm|title=11th South Asian Games to start in January 2010|accessdate=21 March 2009}}</ref> Dhaka also hosted the [[ICC World Twenty20]], along with Chittagong and [[Sylhet]], in [[2014 ICC World Twenty20|2014]].

The [[National Sports Council]], responsible for promoting sports activities across the nation, is based in Dhaka. Dhaka also has stadiums largely used for domestic events such as the [[Bangladesh Army Stadium]], the [[Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium]], the [[Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium]] and the [[Outer Stadium Ground]].<ref>{{cite web
|publisher=ESPNcricinfo
|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/town/56660.html
|title=Grounds – Bangladesh: Dhaka
|accessdate=13 March 2008
}}</ref> The [[Dhaka University Ground]] and the BUET Sports Ground host many intercollegiate tournaments.<ref>{{cite book|author=Muhammad Abdur Rahim|title=The History of the University of Dacca|page=161|publisher=University of Dacca|year=1981}}</ref> They are also used as practice ground by different football clubs and visiting foreign national football teams.

There are two [[golf course]]s in Dhaka. One is situated at [[Army Golf Club]] and another is situated at [[Kurmitola Golf Club]].<ref>{{cite web
|publisher=Bangladesh Golf Federation
|url=http://www.bgf-bd.org/ClubList
|title=Bangladesh Golf Federation Member list
|accessdate=30 January 2017
}}</ref>

== Transport ==
{{See also|Dhaka Metro Rail}}

===Road===
[[File:Rickshaws everywhere.jpg|thumb|Cycle rickshaws are the most popular mode of transport in Dhaka]]
[[File:BRTC double decker bus 03652.jpg|thumb|Double-decker bus of BRTC]]
Dhaka is connected to the other parts of the country through highway and railway links. Five of the eight major [[List of roads in Bangladesh#Roads and Highways|national highways]] of Bangladesh start from the city. They are- [[N1 (Bangladesh)|N1]], [[N2 (Bangladesh)|N2]], [[N3 (Bangladesh)|N3]], [[N5 (Bangladesh)|N5]] and [[N8 (Bangladesh)|N8]]. Dhaka is also directly connected to two longest routes of [[Asian Highway Network]]- [[AH1]] and [[AH2]], as well as to [[AH41]] route. Highway links to the Indian cities of [[Kolkata]], [[Agartala]], [[Guwahati]] and [[Shillong]] have been established by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and private bus companies which also run regular international bus services to those cities from Dhaka.<ref name="BRTC">{{cite news
|date=13 October 2003
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3162854.stm
|title=Passengers shun Dhaka-India bus
|publisher=BBC News
|accessdate=7 September 2006
|first=Alastair
|last=Lawson
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hcidhaka.gov.in/pages.php?id=1244|title=Details of Bus Services|publisher=hcidhaka.gov.in}}</ref>
An elevated [[controlled-access highway|expressway]] system is under construction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=189387|title=No more push for PPP initiative|work=The Daily Star|date=10 June 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daily-sun.com/?view=details&type=daily_sun_news&pub_no=254&cat_id=1&menu_id=1&news_type_id=1&index=0&archiev=yes&arch_date=22-06-2011|title=Govt plans to build 2nd expressway|publisher=daily-sun|date=22 June 2011}}</ref> There are 3 inter-district bus terminals in Dhaka, which are located at Mohakhali, Saidabad and Gabtoli area of the city.

Dhaka suffers some of the worst traffic congestion in the world. The city lacks an organized public transport system. Construction of [[Dhaka Metro Rail|MRT]] and a [[bus rapid transit|BRT]] is currently going on to solve the problem. [[Cycle rickshaw]]s and [[auto rickshaw#Bangladesh|auto rickshaws]] are the main mode of transport within metro area, with close to 400,000 rickshaws running each day: the highest number in any city in the world.<ref name="Rickshaws2">{{cite news
|last=Lawson
|first=Alastair
|date=10 May 2002
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2300179.stm
|title=Dhaka's beleaguered rickshaw wallahs
|publisher=BBC News
|accessdate=17 December 2008
}}</ref><ref name="Rickshaws1">{{cite news
|url = http://student.britannica.com/eb/art-72937/More-rickshaws-are-found-in-Dhaka-Bangladesh-than-in-any
|title = rickshaw: Dhaka
|work = Encyclopædia Britannica
|accessdate = 17 December 2008
|deadurl = yes
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090116082507/http://student.britannica.com/eb/art-72937/More-rickshaws-are-found-in-Dhaka-Bangladesh-than-in-any
|archivedate = 16 January 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref name="Rickshaws">{{cite news
|last=Menchetti
|first=Peter
|date=24 March 2005
|url=http://www.pedalinginbikecity.org/diary/text/Dhaka_Rickshaws.pdf
|title=Cycle Rickshaws in Dhaka, Bangladesh
|format=PDF
|publisher=Thesis for Amsterdam University
|accessdate=15 April 2008
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2300179.stm|title=Dhaka|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=24 February 2009|date=5 October 2002|first=Alastair|last=Lawson}}</ref><ref name="CiE"/><ref name="Rick">{{cite news
|date=20 July 1998
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/136074.stm
|title=Does Dhaka need rickshaws?
|publisher=BBC News
|accessdate=27 September 2006
}}</ref> However, only about 85,000 rickshaws are licensed by the city government.<ref name="EDemo1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Rizanuzzaman Laskar|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/03/04/d703042503132.htm|title=Rickshaw pullers get licences|work=The Daily Star|date=4 March 2007}}</ref> Relatively low-cost and non-polluting cycle rickshaws, nevertheless, cause traffic congestion and have been banned from many parts of the city. The government has overseen the replacement of two-stroke engine auto rickshaws with "Green auto-rickshaws" locally called ''CNG auto-rickshaw'' or ''Baby-taxi'', which run on [[compressed natural gas]].<ref>{{cite book
|last=Rahman
|first=Mushfiqur
|contribution =Compressed Natural Gas
|editor-last = Islam
|editor-first = Sirajul
|editor-link = Sirajul Islam
|title=Banglapedia: National encyclopedia of Bangladesh
|publisher=[[Asiatic Society]] of Bangladesh
|place = Dhaka
|isbn=984-32-0576-6
|accessdate=17 January 2008
|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Compressed_Natural_Gas
|year=2003
|oclc=52727562
}}</ref>

Public buses are operated by the state-run [[Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation]] (BRTC) and by numerous private companies and operators. [[Scooter (motorcycle)|Scooters]], taxis and privately owned cars are rapidly becoming popular with the city's growing middle class.Limited numbers of [[Taxicab|Taxis]] are available. It is planned to raise the total number of taxis to 18,000 gradually.<ref name=Taxis>{{cite news
|date=10 May 2013
|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/govt-to-import-5000-taxis/
|title=Govt to import 5,000 taxis
|publisher=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]
|accessdate=15 May 2013
}}</ref> [[Uber (company)|Uber]] has started [[mobile app]] based taxi service in the city.<ref name=Uber>{{cite news
|date=10 May 2013
|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/editorial/uber-taxis-dhaka-1290241/
|title=Uber taxis in Dhaka
|publisher=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]
|accessdate=27 November 2016
}}</ref>

===Air===
[[File:Biman Bangladesh Airlines S2-AFM (7850129206).jpg|thumb|[[Runway]] and [[airport apron|apron]] area of the Shahjalal International Airport]]
[[Shahjalal International Airport]] {{Airport codes|DAC|VGHS}}, located {{convert|15|km}} north of Dhaka city centre is the largest and busiest international airport in the country.<ref name="Air">{{cite book|last=Alam|first=Jobair Bin| contribution=Air Transport|editor-last=Islam|editor-first=Sirajul|editor-link=Sirajul Islam |title=Banglapedia: National encyclopedia of Bangladesh |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh|place=Dhaka |isbn=984-32-0576-6 |accessdate=17 January 2008 |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Air_Transport |year=2003 |oclc=52727562}}</ref> The airport has an area of {{convert|1981|acre}}. The airport has a capacity of handling 15 million passengers annually,<ref name=capacity>{{cite news |last=Byron |first=Rejaul Karim |title=New int'l airport to cost Tk 50,000cr |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=152589 |accessdate=16 November 2011|newspaper=The Daily Star |date=28 August 2010}}</ref> and is predicted by the [[Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh]] to be enough until 2026.<ref name=caab>{{cite web |title=AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT HISTORY |url=http://www.caab.gov.bd/devlpmnts/devhis.html |publisher=Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh |accessdate=16 November 2011}}</ref> In 2014, it handled 6.1 million passengers, and 248,000 tonnes of cargo.<ref>{{cite news|title=CAAB initiates efforts to expand and upgrade HSIA To build a new airport for Dhaka |url=http://www.bangladeshmonitor.net/news_detail.php?nhid=6199&CID=1 |accessdate=21 July 2013 |newspaper=The Bangladesh Monitor |date=1 April 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405130549/http://www.bangladeshmonitor.net/news_detail.php?nhid=6199&CID=1 |archivedate=5 April 2015 |df= }}</ref> Average aircraft movement per day is around 190 flights.<ref name="thedailystar.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=234667|title=Shahjalal airport set for upgrade in two months|publisher=|accessdate=4 June 2015}}</ref> It is the hub of all [[List of airlines of Bangladesh|Bangladeshi airlines]]. Domestic service flies to Chittagong, Sylhet, [[Rajshahi]], [[Cox's Bazar]], [[Jessore]], [[Barisal]], [[Saidpur, Bangladesh|Saidpur]] and international services fly to major cities in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.<ref name=intsched>{{cite web |title=Biman's Destination: International Destinations |work=Biman Bangladesh Airlines |url= http://biman-airlines.com/our-network/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701060706/http://biman-airlines.com/our-network |archivedate=1 July 2013 |dead-url=yes}}</ref><ref name=dhkcityguide>{{cite web |title=Dhaka – Zia International Airport (DAC) |work=World Executive |publisher=OE Interactive |url= http://www.worldexecutive.com/locations/asia_pacific/bangladesh/dhaka/airports.html }}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:Kamlan.jpg|thumb|Night view of [[Kamalapur railway station]]]]
[[Kamalapur railway station]] is the largest and busiest among the railway stations in the city. Designed by American architect [[Robert Boughey]], the railway station situated in the north-east side of [[Motijheel]], was established in the early 1960s and started its operation from 1969.<ref name="resolution">{{cite web|url= http://dhakadailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/05/kamalapur-rail-station.html|title=Dhaka|author=Ershad Ahmed|publisher=blogspot.com| accessdate=2014-02-18}}</ref> The station is the largest in the country and also one of the most modern and striking buildings in Dhaka. The state-owned [[Bangladesh Railway]] provides suburban and national services,<ref>{{cite book|author=Marika McAdam|title=Bangladesh|page=66|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2004|isbn=1-74059-280-8}}</ref> and the [[Maitree Express]] international service to [[Kolkata]]. Regular express train services connect Dhaka with major cities of [[Chittagong]], [[Rajshahi]], [[Khulna]], [[Sylhet]] and [[Rangpur City|Rangpur]].

In 2013, suburban services to [[Narayanganj]] and [[Gazipur City|Gazipur]] were upgraded using [[Diesel multiple unit#Diesel-electric|diesel electric multiple unit]] trains.<ref name="BR">{{cite news
|date=24 April 2013
|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/24/pm-inaugurates-dhaka-narayanganj-demu-train
|title=PM inaugurates Dhaka-Narayanganj DEMU train
|publisher=[[Bdnews24.com]]
|accessdate=1 May 2013
}}</ref><ref name="BR1">{{cite news
|date=24 April 2013
|url=http://archive.dhakatribune.com/development/2013/aug/22/demu-train-service-introduced-dhaka-joydebpur
|title= Demu train service introduced on Dhaka-Joydebpur
|publisher=Dhaka Tribune
|accessdate=22 August 2013
}}</ref>

The [[Dhaka Metro Rail]] feasibility study has been completed. A {{convert|21.5|km}}, $1.7 Billion Phase 1, metro route is being negotiated by the Government with [[Japan International Cooperation Agency]]. The first route will start from Uttara, northern suburb of Dhaka to Sayedabad, southern section of Dhaka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=140486|title=Muhith to sit with armed forces to resolve metro rail site dispute|publisher=thefinancialexpress|date=25 June 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402195318/http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=140486|archivedate=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The route consists of 16 elevated stations each of 180m long. Construction began on 26 June 2016.<ref name="TDS-June28">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/pm-opens-work-metro-brt-1246204|title=PM opens work on metro, BRT|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=27 June 2016|accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref>

===Waterways===
The [[Dhaka Sadarghat|Sadarghat River Port]] on the banks of the Buriganga River serves for the transport of goods and passengers upriver and to other ports in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Dhaka|title=Asian Highway Handbook|page=28|publisher=United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Publications|year=2005|isbn=92-1-120170-5|author=Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.}}</ref> Inter-city and inter-district [[motor ship|motor vessels]] and passenger-ferry services are used by many people to travel riverine regions of the country from the city. [[Water taxi|Water bus]] services are available on Buriganga River and Hatirjheel and Gulshan lakes. Water buses of Buriganga River ferry passengers on Sadarghat to Gabtali route.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://businessnews-bd.com/waterbus-service-launched-on-sadarghat-gabtali-river-route/|title=Waterbus service launched on Sadarghat-Gabtali river route|publisher=Bangladesh Business News|date=28 August 2010}}</ref> Water taxis in Hatirjheel and Gulshan lakes provide connectivity via two routes, one route between Tejgaon and Gulshan, another route between Tejgaon and Rampura areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/12/06/water-taxi-services-on-dhakas-hatirjheel-from-victory-day|title=Water taxi services on Dhaka’s Hatirjheel ‘from Victory Day’ |publisher=bdnews24|date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

==Twin towns and sister cities==
:{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Venice]], Italy since 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pj8cderhbr8C&pg=PA57&dq=dhaka%20venice%20of%20the%20east&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAGoVChMIlILe9LDlyAIVZOGmCh2dZwdz#v=onepage&q=dhaka%20venice%20of%20the%20east&f=false|title=Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability|first=Michael|last=Hough|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Psychology Press|via=Google Books}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Dhaka}}
* [[Jahangir Nagar]]
* [[Old Dhaka]]
* [[Greater Dhaka]]
* [[List of cities and towns in Bangladesh]]
* [[List of tallest buildings in Dhaka]]
* [[World's largest cities]]

== References ==
{{reflist|28em}}

== Further reading ==
{{See also|Timeline of Dhaka#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Dhaka}}
* {{cite book|title=Dhaka -past present future|editor=Sharuf Uddin Ahmed
|publisher=The Asiatic Society, Dhaka
|year=1991
|isbn=984-512-335-X}}
* {{cite book
|last= Karim |first=Abdul
|title=History of Bengal, Mughal Period (I)
|location=Rajshahi
|year=1992}}
* {{cite book
|last= Pryer |first=Jane
|title=Poverty and Vulnerability in Dhaka Slums: The Urban Livelihood Study
|publisher=Ashgate Publishing
|isbn=0-7546-1864-1
|year= 2003
|id= {{OCLC|123337526}} {{OCLC|243482310}} {{OCLC|50334244}} {{OCLC|50939515}} }}
* {{cite book
|last = Rabbani
|first = Golam
|year=1997
|title=Dhaka, from Mughal outpost to metropolis
|publisher=University Press, Dhaka
|isbn=984-05-1374-5 }}
* {{cite book
|last= Sarkar |first=Sir Jadunath
|title=History of Bengal (II)
|location=Dhaka
|year=1948}}
* {{cite book
|last= Taifoor |first=S.M.
|title=Glimpses of Old Dacca
|location=Dhaka
|year=1956}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Dhaka}}
{{wikivoyage|Dhaka}}
* [http://www.rajukdhaka.gov.bd/ Capital Development Authority]
* [http://www.dncc.gov.bd/ Dhaka North City Corporation]
* [http://dhakasouthcity.gov.bd/ Dhaka South City Corporation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170606045741/http://www.dtcb.gov.bd/ Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority]
* [http://www.dmp.gov.bd/ Dhaka Metropolitan Police website]

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Dhaka City
| North = [[Gazipur City]]
| Northeast = [[Purbachal New Town]]
| East = [[Rupganj Upazila]], [[Narayanganj District]]
| Southeast = [[Narayanganj|Narayanganj City]]
| South = [[Keraniganj Upazila]], [[Dhaka District]]
| Southwest = [[Keraniganj Upazila]], [[Dhaka District]]
| West = [[Savar Upazila]], [[Dhaka District]]
| Northwest = [[Savar Upazila]], [[Dhaka District]]
}}
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|title = Articles Related to Dhaka
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}}
{{Subject bar |book= |portal1=Dhaka |portal2=Geography |portal3=Bangladesh |portal4=South Asia |portal5=Asia |commons=yes |n=yes |n-search=Category:Dhaka |wikt=yes |b=yes |q=yes |s=yes |v=yes |voy=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q60}}
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[[Category:Dhaka| ]]
[[Category:History of Bengal]]
[[Category:Bengal]]
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
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Revision as of 15:48, 17 December 2017

This article is about the capital city. For the division, see Dhaka division. For the district, see Dhaka district. For the region of Bangladesh, see Greater Dhaka. For the historic city, see Old Dhaka. For other uses, see Dhaka (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Dakar.

{{Infobox settlement |name = Dhaka |official_name =Capital |native_name = ঢাকা |settlement_type =Metropolis |image_skyline = Dhaka collage.png |imagesize = 280px |image_caption = First row: Parliament of Bangladesh Second row: Ahsan Manzil, Curzon Hall, Nimtoli Deuri Third row: Gulshan, Uttara Fourth row: Banani, Motijheel Fifth row: Port of Dhaka |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |nickname = Rickshaw Capital of the World
Venice of the East
City of Mosques |motto = |image_map = Dhaka locator map.svg |mapsize = |map_caption = Dhaka in Bangladesh |coordinates = {{coord|23|43|N|90|25C

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