Jump to content

Dhaka: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Line 499: Line 499:
===Shopping===
===Shopping===
{{See also|List of shopping malls in Bangladesh}}
{{See also|List of shopping malls in Bangladesh}}
[[File:Jamuna Future Park exterior.jpg|200px|thumbnail|Jamuna Future Park, Largest Shopping mall in South Asia and 11th largest in world]]
Shopping in Dhaka is very easy. There are markets in almost every part of Dhaka, where household commodities are available. Shopping malls are also found in every major avenues; some of them are [[New Market, Dhaka|Dhaka New Market]], [[Basundhara City]], Rapa plaza, Metro Shopping mall, Concord Twin Tower, [[Bangladesh Computer Samity|BCS Computer City]], [[Navana Tower]], Pink city shopping mall, [[Mouchak Market]], [[Eastern Plaza]], Fortune mall, Eastern plus, Banga Bazar, Razdhani market, Gausia complex, Holland Centre, Suvastu Nazar Valley, Cofidence Tower, Mollah tower, Lutfun tower, Eastern Mallika, Muskut plaza, North Tower, Razlaksmi complex, Multiplan Center and many more. Kudrat E Khuda Avenue (former New Elephant Road), and its surrounding areas are very popular destination for shoppers. [[Jamuna Future Park]] is one of biggest shopping mall in the world with 4 million square feet shopping area. Chain shops like Shopno, Agora, Meena Bazar, Nandon, PQS are also found in most of the residential areas of the city. There are many branches of [[Aarong]] around the city where local products including clothings, handicrafts, groceries and home decors are available in a wide range.
Shopping in Dhaka is very easy. There are markets in almost every part of Dhaka, where household commodities are available. Shopping malls are also found in every major avenues; some of them are [[New Market, Dhaka|Dhaka New Market]], [[Basundhara City]], Rapa plaza, Metro Shopping mall, Concord Twin Tower, [[Bangladesh Computer Samity|BCS Computer City]], [[Navana Tower]], Pink city shopping mall, [[Mouchak Market]], [[Eastern Plaza]], Fortune mall, Eastern plus, Banga Bazar, Razdhani market, Gausia complex, Holland Centre, Suvastu Nazar Valley, Cofidence Tower, Mollah tower, Lutfun tower, Eastern Mallika, Muskut plaza, North Tower, Razlaksmi complex, Multiplan Center and many more. Kudrat E Khuda Avenue (former New Elephant Road), and its surrounding areas are very popular destination for shoppers. [[Jamuna Future Park]] is one of biggest shopping mall in the world with 4 million square feet shopping area. Chain shops like Shopno, Agora, Meena Bazar, Nandon, PQS are also found in most of the residential areas of the city. There are many branches of [[Aarong]] around the city where local products including clothings, handicrafts, groceries and home decors are available in a wide range.



Revision as of 04:35, 7 August 2013

Dhaka
ঢাকা
Skyline of Dhaka (Top), Cresent Bridge (Left), Bashundhara City Shooping Mall (Right), Parliment Building (Bottom)
Skyline of Dhaka (Top), Cresent Bridge (Left), Bashundhara City Shooping Mall (Right), Parliment Building (Bottom)
Satellite view of Greater Dhaka Metropolis
Satellite view of Greater Dhaka Metropolis
Country Bangladesh
DivisionDhaka Division
DistrictDhaka District
Establishment1608 CE
Granted city status1947
Area
 • Metropolis Capital city360 km2 (140 sq mi)
 • Water48.56 km2 (18.75 sq mi)
Elevation4 m (13.12 ft)
Population
 (2013)[2]
 • Metropolis Capital city14,399,000
 • Density45,000/km2 (115,200/sq mi)
 • Metro
7,000,940(2,008)
 • DemonymDhakaite
 • Literacy rate
62.3%
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
1000, 1100, 12xx, 13xx
National calling code+880
Calling code02
GDP PPP (2008)$78 billion[4]
WebsiteOfficial Dhaka Web site

Template:Contains Bangla text Dhaka (Template:Lang-bn, pronounced [ˈɖʱaka]; formerly spelled as Dacca[5]) is the capital city of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the east banks of the Buriganga River in the Ganges delta, Dhaka has an estimated population of more than 15 million people, making it the largest city in Bangladesh and the 9th largest city in the world.[6] It is known as the City of Mosques, and with 400,000 cycle-rickshaws running on its streets every day, the city is described as the Rickshaw Capital of the World. Dhaka is also one of the world's most densely populated cites.[7][8][9]

Old Dhaka was founded in the 17th century as the Mughal capital of Bengal. It was called Jahangir Nagar (City of Jahangir) and served as the centre of the worldwide muslin trade.[10][11] The modern city, however, developed chiefly under British rule in the 19th century. After the Partition of Bengal in 1905, Dhaka became the capital of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam but lost its status as a provincial capital again after the partition was annulled in 1911. After the partition of British India, Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan, and later, in 1971, the capital of independent Bangladesh. During the intervening period, the city witnessed widespread turmoil; this included many impositions of martial law, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence, military suppression, devastation during war, and natural calamities.

Modern Dhaka is the centre of political and cultural life in Bangladesh, and serves as one of the two principal economic and industrial centers of the country, along with the southern port city of Chittagong.[12][13] The city has the most developed urban infrastructure in the country, however it suffers from chronic urban problems of poverty, pollution and overpopulation due to increasing rural-to-urban migration in Bangladesh. The city is modernizing its transport and communications, and has been attracting large volumes of foreign investments in recent years. Dhaka has also emerged as one of the fastest growing cities in the world.[14][15]

Etymology

The word Dhaka is said to refer to the Dhaka tree (Butea frondosa), once common in the area; or to Dhak (Template:Lang-bn), a huge membranophone instrument from South Asia which was beaten by order of Subahdar Islam Khan I while inaugurating the capital in 1610.[16] The name Dhaka may also have originated from Dhakeshwari ("The Hidden Goddess"), she is the 800 years old deity of the Divine Mother, whose shrine is located in the south-western part of the city.[17] 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.[18]

History

Buddhist and Hindu kingdom

The existence of a settlement in the area that is now Dhaka dates from the 7th century. The small area was ruled by the Buddhist kingdom of Kamarupa and the Pala Empire before passing to the control of the Hindu Sena dynasty in the 9th century.[19] The name of the city may have derived after the establishment of the Goddess Dhakeshwari's temple by Ballal Sena in the 12th century.[20] The town itself consisted of a few market centres like Lakshmi Bazar, Shankhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar, Patuatuli, Kumartuli, Bania Nagar and Goal Nagar. After the fall of the Sena Empire, Dhaka was successively ruled by the Sultanate of Bengal as well as interruption of governors from the Delhi Sultanate.

Mughal rule

Mughal governor Shaista Khan, one of the founders of the Old City of Dhaka
A woman clad in fine Dhaka muslin, 1700s
18th century Armenian church in Old Dhaka.

In 1576, much of Bengal came under the control of the Mughal Empire. At the time, Dhaka emerged as Mughal military base, prior to this, Chittagong was the leading city of Bengal.[21] The development of townships and housing had resulted into a significant growth in population, as the town was proclaimed the capital (Rajmahal) of Bengal under Mughal rule in 1608, during this time many mosques, forts and universities had been built and Muslims were excused from paying taxes, this allowed many Muslims from surrounding areas to swell up the town transforming it into a city, it was at this time Dhaka was known as a city rather than a town or Fort.[22][23][24] Mughal documents record subahdar Islam Khan as the first administrator of the city.[25] Islam Khan named the city "Jahangir Nagar" (شهر از جهانگیر; City of Jahangir) in honour of Emperor Jahangir, although this name was dropped soon after Jahangir's death. A major expansion of the city took place under the direction of a general Shaista Khan on orders from the Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century.[23][24] The city then measured 19 by 13 kilometres (12 by 8 mi), with a population of nearly one million people and over a 100 universities and hundreds of mosques.[26] Mughal rule was severely weakend after the death of Aurangzeb and control of the Bengal switched hands once more, however it is noted that Mughal expansion and influences can still be seen in the region, as it was under Mughal rule that Islam came to be dominant.

British rule

The Saat Masjid on the Buriganga River banks in the 19th century

The British East India Company in 1765 gained the right to collect revenue (Diwani right) on behalf of the Mughal emperor. East India company became the imperial tax collector. As company's influence grew, East India Company later took on governing in 1793 when the Nawabs of Bengal were forced to relinquish all their authority over Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, and the city passed on to total control of East India company. The city's population shrank dramatically during this period as the prominence of Calcutta rose,[27] but substantive development and modernisation eventually followed. A modern civic water supply system was introduced in 1874 and electricity supply launched in 1878.[28][29] The Dhaka Cantonment was established near the city, serving as a base for British and Bengali soldiers.[24]

20th century

The Ahsan Manzil, one of the great mansions of Old Dhaka, was home to the Dhaka Nawab Family.
Dhaka University students taking part in the Bengali Language Movement.

During the abortive Partition of Bengal in 1905, Dhaka was declared to be the capital of the newly established state of East Bengal and Assam, but Bengal was reunited in 1911.[22][23][24] Following the Partition of India in 1947, Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan. The city witnessed major communal violence following the partition of India.[24] A large proportion of the city's Hindu population departed for India, while the city received a large influx of Muslims. As the centre of regional politics, however, Dhaka saw an increasing number of political strikes and incidents of violence.[24] The adoption of Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan led to protest marches involving large crowds. Known as the Bengali Language Movement, the protests resulted in Pakistani police firing which killed a number of peaceful student demonstrators.[30] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Dhaka remained a hotbed of political activity, and the demands for autonomy for the Bengali population. And this population gradually gained momentum.[31]

The 1970 Bhola cyclone devastated much of the region, killed an estimated 500,000 people.[32] More than half the city was flooded and millions of people were marooned.[33] With public anger growing against ethnic discrimination and poor cyclone relief efforts from the central government, Bengali politician Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman held a nationalist gathering on 7 March 1971 at Ramna Racecourse.[24][30] An estimated one million people attended the gathering, leading to the 26 March declaration of Bangladesh's independence.[30] In response, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight, which led to the arrests, torture and killing of thousands of people.[34] After nine months of bloody battle with Indian Army and Mitra Bahini, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Joint Forces on 16 December marking the end of the independence war of Bangladesh.[35] As the nation's capital, Dhaka saw a rapid and huge growth of the city population in the post-independence period, as migrant workers from rural areas across Bangladesh moved to the city.[36] The growth of commerce and industry along with the city's population has created further challenges to the services and infrastructure.[37] A real estate boom has followed the expansion of city limits and the development of new settlements such as Uttara,Baridhara, Mirpur and Motijheel.[38]

21st century

Geography

Astronaut View of Dhaka

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh at 23°42′0″N 90°22′30″E / 23.70000°N 90.37500°E / 23.70000; 90.37500, 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 360 square kilometres (140 sq mi).[39] It consists of 41 thanasLalbagh, Kotwali, Hazaribagh, Sutrapur, Ramna, Motijheel, Paltan, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Tejgaon, Gulshan, Mirpur, Pallabi, Shah Ali, Turaag, Sabujbagh, Dhaka Cantonment, Demra, Shyampur, Badda, Kafrul, Kamrangir char, Khilgaon, Uttara etc. In total the city has 130 wards and 725 mohallas.[40] Dhaka District has an area of 1,463.60 square kilometres (565 sq mi) with a population of 18,305,671 in 2012; and is bounded by the districts of Gazipur, Tangail, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Narayanganj, Manikganj.[40] 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 cyclones.[41]

Climate

Dhaka experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. Under the Köppen climate classification, Dhaka has a tropical savanna climate. The city has a distinct monsoonal season, with an annual average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) and monthly means varying between 18 °C (64 °F) in January and 32 °C (90 °F) in May.[42] Approximately 87% of the annual average rainfall of 2,123 millimeters (83.5 in) occurs between May and October.[42] 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.[43] Water bodies and wetlands 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.[43]

Climate data for Dhaka
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0)
34.4
(93.9)
40.6
(105.1)
42.2
(108.0)
41.1
(106.0)
36.7
(98.1)
35.0
(95.0)
36.1
(97.0)
36.7
(98.1)
37.2
(99.0)
34.4
(93.9)
30.6
(87.1)
42.2
(108.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 25.4
(77.7)
28.1
(82.6)
32.5
(90.5)
33.7
(92.7)
32.9
(91.2)
32.1
(89.8)
31.4
(88.5)
31.6
(88.9)
31.6
(88.9)
31.6
(88.9)
29.6
(85.3)
26.4
(79.5)
30.6
(87.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 19.1
(66.4)
21.8
(71.2)
26.5
(79.7)
28.7
(83.7)
28.7
(83.7)
29.1
(84.4)
28.8
(83.8)
29.0
(84.2)
28.8
(83.8)
27.7
(81.9)
24.4
(75.9)
20.3
(68.5)
26.1
(79.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.7
(54.9)
15.5
(59.9)
20.4
(68.7)
23.6
(74.5)
24.5
(76.1)
26.1
(79.0)
26.2
(79.2)
26.3
(79.3)
25.9
(78.6)
23.8
(74.8)
19.2
(66.6)
14.1
(57.4)
21.5
(70.7)
Record low °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0)
6.7
(44.1)
10.6
(51.1)
16.7
(62.1)
14.4
(57.9)
19.4
(66.9)
21.1
(70.0)
21.7
(71.1)
21.1
(70.0)
17.2
(63.0)
11.1
(52.0)
7.2
(45.0)
6.1
(43.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7.7
(0.30)
28.9
(1.14)
65.8
(2.59)
156.3
(6.15)
339.4
(13.36)
340.4
(13.40)
373.1
(14.69)
316.5
(12.46)
300.4
(11.83)
172.3
(6.78)
34.4
(1.35)
12.8
(0.50)
2,148
(84.57)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1 1 3 6 11 16 12 16 12 7 1 0 86
Average relative humidity (%) 46 37 38 42 59 72 72 74 71 65 53 50 57
Mean monthly sunshine hours 279 226 217 180 155 90 62 62 90 186 240 279 2,066
Source 1: Weatherbase (normals, 30 yr period)[44]
Source 2: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial (extremes),[45] BBC Weather (humidity and sun)[46]

Parks and lakes

Ramna Park Lake shoreline
File:Cresent lake at night.jpg
Crescent Lake at night

There are many parks within Dhaka city, including Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Shishu Park, 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 lake, Banani lake, Uttara lake and Hatirjheel-Begunbari lake.

Hatirjheel-Begunbari is a new place of recreation for city dwellers. Hatirjheel covering 320 acres is transformed into a place of festivity at night but with serenity settling down. Colorful lights illuminating the wide expanse of concrete structures, lake and waterfronts would take anyone to a world of fantasy. No wonder that within a few days since its inauguration on January 2 it has become a popular spot for city dwellers, who search for peace and beauty in their never-ending struggle in the concrete jungle of Dhaka. Hatirjheel seems to be a picture of Dhaka we could dream of. It is indeed a small piece of the capital that stood aloof from the rest. The sight of its jam-free express roads, uncluttered footpaths, modern bridges, walkways along a lake stretching as far as our eyes can see would compel us to forget the city we hear, see and experience every day. The construction of a theater, park, garden and some other beautification projects has not yet been finished. Once the project is fully functional, the facilities would include an information centre, celebration point, viewing decks, benches at different points, game equipment for children, water taxi terminals and footbridges. Consultants from Civil Engineering Department of BUET and engineers of SWO of Bangladesh Army, Roads and Highways Department, Local Government Engineering Department and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha have worked hard to turn this project into reality.

Civil administration

Dhaka panorama at night

The Dhaka municipality was founded on 1 August 1864, and upgraded to "corporation" status in 1978.[47] The Dhaka City Corporation is a self-governing corporation which runs the affairs of the city. Recently(i.e. 2011), Dhaka City Corporation has been divided into two administrative parts – these are (1) Dhaka City Corporation-North and (2) Dhaka City Corporation-South – for ensuring better civic facilities. These two corporations are headed by two administrators. The incorporated area is divided into several wards, which have elected commissioners. The Dhaka Education Board is responsible for administering all public schools and most private schools with the exception of English-medium schools and madrassahs.[48][49] All madrassahs in Bangladesh are governed by a central board while English-medium schools are under separate educational and governance structures.[50]

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was established in 1976 and has 6,000 personnel in 12 police stations.[51] With the rapid growth of the city, the force has been raised to 23,000 personnel and the establishment of 41 police stations has been completed and the creation of another 10 police stations is underway.[52]

Night view of the Bangladesh National Parliament
South face of the Hoseni Dalan

The city is divided into 25 (i.e. 2011) parliamentary constituencies. The two main political parties are the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Ramna contains the Secretariat, which houses most of the government ministries. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the Dhaka High Court are located in the city. The Bangabhaban palace has served as the official residence of the Viceroy of India, the governor of East Pakistan and presently the President of Bangladesh.[53] The Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban, designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn,[30] houses the unicameral national parliament. The Baitul Mukarram, developed with a design resembling the Kaaba of Mecca, is the national mosque.[54] Other historical monuments in the city include the Bara Katra palace, the Lalbagh Fort, the Hoseni Dalan and the Ahsan Manzil.[55]

To fight rising traffic congestion and population, 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.[56]

Water management

Aside from Chittagong, Dhaka has a water-borne sewage system, but this serves only 22% of the population while another 30% are served with septic tanks.[57] Only two-thirds of households in Dhaka are served by the city water supply system. More than 9.7 million tons of solid wastes are produced in Dhaka city each year. While private and government efforts have succeeded in collecting refuse city-wide and using it as manure, most solid wastes are often dumped untreated in nearby low-lying areas and water bodies.[58] The utility in charge of water and sanitation in Dhaka, DWASA, addresses these challenges with a number of measures. It says that in 2011 it achieved a continuous water supply 24 hours per day 7 days a week, an increase in revenues so that operating costs are more than covered, and a reduction of water losses from 53% in 2003 to 29% in 2010.[59] For these achievements DWASA, got a "Performer of the Year Award" at the Global Water Summit 2011 in Berlin.[60] In the future DWASA plans massive investment to replace dwindling groundwater resources with treated surface water from less polluted rivers located up to 160 km from the city.[59] In 2011 Bangladesh's capital development authority, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, made rainwater harvesting for new houses mandatory in an effort to address water scarcity and reduce flooding.

82% of the city's water supply is abstracted from groundwater through 577 deep tube wells, while four relatively small surface water treatment plants provide the remaining 18%.[61] Groundwater levels are dropping at two to three metres every year. The city's water table has sunk by 50 metres in the past four decades and the closest underground water is now over 60 metres below ground level.[62][63] The Asian Development Bank estimated in 2007 that by 2015 a severe supply shortage would occur if the utility did not reduce groundwater abstraction.[64] Nevertheless, DWASA announced in 2012 that it will develop a new wellfield with 46 wells providing 150,000 cubic metres of water per day at a cost of 63 million USD, of which 45 million USD will be financed by the government of South Korea.[65]

The utility plans to substitute surface water for groundwater through the construction of four large water treatment plants until 2020 at a cost of 1.8 billion USD (Saidabad Phase II and III, Padma/Pagla and Khilkhet). The treatment plants will draw water from more distant and less polluted rivers up to 160 km from the city. The four plants are expected to have a combined capacity of 1.63 million cubic metres per year, compared to a 2010 supply of 2.11 million cubic metre per year that is mainly from groundwater. As of 2011, funding had been secured for the first plant which is under construction thanks to a 250 million USD contribution from Danish development assistance.[59] In 2012 the government signed a contract with a Chinese company to build a water treatment plant at Munshiganj on the Padma River. The project costs 407 million USD, of which 290.8 million USD is financed by a soft loan from the Chinese government, the remainder coming from the Bangladeshi government.[66]

Economy

File:Bangladesh bank.jpg
Bangladesh Bank Building at Motijheel
City Centre Bangladesh is one of the tallest buildings in Dhaka.

Dhaka is the commercial heart of Bangladesh.[67] The city has a growing middle class population, driving the market for modern consumer and luxury goods.[23][68] The city has historically attracted a large number of migrant workers.[69] Hawkers, peddlers, small shops, rickshaw transport, roadside vendors and stalls employ a large segment of the population[69][70] — rickshaw-drivers alone number as many as 400,000.[71] Half the workforce is employed in household and unorganised labour, while about 800,000 work in the textile industry. Even so, unemployment remains high at 19%.[72] As of 2009, Dhaka's Gross Municipal Product (GMP) is registered at $85 billion.[73] With an annual growth rate of 6.2%, the GMP is projected to rise to $215 billion by 2025.[73] The annual per capita income of Dhaka is estimated at $1,350(USD), with 34% of households living below the poverty line,[74] including a large segment of the population coming from rural areas in search of employment,[68] with most surviving on less than $5 a day.[75]

Karwan Bazar

The main commercial areas of the city include Motijheel, Dilkusha, Paltan, New Market, Shahbag, Gulshan, Mohakhali, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate, while Tejgaon and Hazaribagh are the major industrial areas.[76] Bashundhara-Baridhara is a developing economic area that will include high-tech industries, corporations and a large shopping precinct in about 5 years.[68] The Export Processing Zone in Dhaka was set up to encourage the export of garments, textiles and other goods. Dhaka has two EPZs. They are home to 413 industries, which employ mostly women.[77] The Dhaka Stock Exchange is based in the city, including many large multinationals and BRAC are based in Dhaka.[78] Country's central bank Bangladesh Bank and Nobel Peace Prize winning organization Grameen Bank have their head-quarters in Dhaka.[79] Urban developments have sparked a widespread construction boom; new high-rise buildings and skyscrapers have changed the city landscape.[68] Growth has been especially strong in the finance, banking, manufacturing, telecommunications and services sectors, while tourism, hotels and restaurants continue as important elements in the economy of Dhaka.[69]

Demographics

File:Dhaka.ogg
Animation showing urban growth in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1972 to 2001. The animation starts with a global view over India using Terra-MODIS 30 km. true colour data. The animation then zooms down to Terra-MODIS 1 km. data over Bangladesh, and dissolves into the 28 December 1972, Landsat-1-MSS data of Dhaka. Dhaka can then be seen growing to its present day size by first showing the 13 February 1989 Landsat-5-TM image which then dissolves into the final 29 January 2001 Landsat-7-ETM+ image.[80]

The population of Dhaka (areas under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka city corporation) stands at approximately 7.0 million. The city, in combination with localities forming the wider metropolitan area, is home to over 15 million as of 2013.[81] The population is growing by an estimated 4.2% per year, one of the highest rates amongst Asian cities.[69] 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.[69] According to Far Eastern Economic Review, Dhaka will become a home of 25 million people by the year 2025.[82]

The literacy rate in Dhaka is also increasing fairly quickly. It was estimated at 62.3% in 2001. The literacy rate had gone up to 72.7% by 2010 which is significantly higher than the national average of 56.5%.[40]

The city population is composed of people from virtually every region of Bangladesh. The long-standing inhabitants of the old city are known as Dhakaiya and have a distinctive dialect and culture. Between 15,000 to 20,000 of the Rohingya, Santal, Khasi, Garo, Chakma and Mandi tribal peoples reside in the city.[83] Dhaka also has a large population of Chinese, Korean, Indian, Burmese and Nepali expatriates working in different industries, students on SAARC scholarship and volunteer work.

Most residents of Dhaka speak Bengali, the national language. Many distinctive Bengali dialects and regional languages such as Chittagonian and Sylheti are also spoken by segments of the population. English is understood by a large segment of the population, especially for business purposes. There is a minority Urdu-speaking population, who are descendants of displaced Muslims from eastern India during 1947 and sought refuge in East Pakistan. The correct population is ambiguous; although official figures estimate at least 40,000 residents,[84] it is estimated that there are at least 300,000 Urdu-speakers in all of Bangladesh, mostly residing in refugee camps in Dhaka.[85][86]

Islam is the dominant religion of Dhaka's people. About 90% of the city practicing the faith of Islam; with a majority belonging to the Sunni sect. There is also a small Shia sect, and an Ahmadiya community. Hinduism is the second-largest religion, with about 9%, and smaller communities practice Buddhism and Christianity, both of about 0.5% each.

Dhaka skyline

Culture

Shaheed Minar, or the Martyr's monument, located near the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

As Dhaka is the most populous city of Bangladesh, it has a vibrant and versatile cultural life. For much of recent history, Dhaka was characterised by roadside markets and small shops that sold a wide variety of goods.[87] Recent years have seen the widespread construction of shopping malls, multiplexes, hotels and restaurants attracting Dhaka's growing middle class and wealthy residents.[88]

Festivals

The annual events and celebrations of Independence Day (26 March), Language Martyrs' Day (21 February), Victory Day (16 December), Bengali New Year (14 April), Ekushey Book Fair (month of February), the Muslim festivals of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, and the Hindu festivals including the Durga Puja and Kali Puja feature prominently in the city's cultural observances, events, and celebrations. Dhaka's people congregate at the Shaheed Minar and the Jatiyo Smriti Soudho to remember the national heroes of the Bengali Language Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War. These occasions are observed with public ceremonies and rallies on public grounds. Many schools and colleges organise fairs, festivals and concerts in which citizens from all levels of society participate.[89]

Pohela Baishakh or Bengal New Year celebrations in the city.

Pohela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, falls annually on 14 April and is popularly celebrated across the city.[89] Large crowds of people gather on the streets of Shahbag, Ramna Park and the campus of the University of Dhaka for celebrations. The Muslim festivals of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha witness widespread celebrations across the whole city.

Performing arts and media

File:Kazi nazrul islam.jpg
Rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is the national poet of Bangladesh.

Despite the growing popularity of music groups and rock bands, traditional folk music remains widely popular.[90] The works of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and national anthem writer Rabindranath Tagore have a widespread following across Dhaka.[91] The Baily Road area is known as Natak Para (Theatre Neighbourhood) which is the centre of Dhaka's thriving theatre movement.[92] Indian and Western music and films are popular with large segments of Dhaka's population.[93]

Bangladesh Betar is the state-run primary provider of radio services, and broadcasts a variety of programming in Bengali and English. In recent years many private radio networks, especially FM radio services, have been established in the city such as Radio Foorti FM 88.0, Radio Today FM 89.6, Radio Amar FM 88.4, ABC Radio FM 89.2, DHAKA FM 90.4 etc. Bangladesh Television is the state-run broadcasting network that provides a wide variety of programmes in Bengali and English. Cable and satellite networks such as Ekushey Television, Channel I, ATN Bangla, Desh TV, RTV, NTV, Banglavision, Channel 9 Bangladesh and Independent TV are amongst the most popular channels. The main offices of most publishing houses in Bangladesh are based in Dhaka. The Prothom Alo and The Daily Ittefaq are the most popular amongst the large number of Bengali language dailies, periodicals and other publications in the city. The Daily Star and The Independent are the major English dailies published.[94] The telephone concentration in Bangladesh is estimated at around 50% and this is much higher in Dhaka.[95]

Cuisine

Along with Bangladeshi cuisine and South Asian variants, a large variety of Western and Chinese cuisine is served at numerous restaurants and eateries.[68] Though restaurants offering multinational cuisine and the international fast-food and hotel chains have opened up in the city, unique Dhakaiya delicacies like Glassey, Hajir Biriyani (Haji's Biriyani), Nanna Biriyani, Laban, Borhani etc. are still very popular amongst Dhakaiyas. These delicacies are even offered to state guests. Dhakaiya Bakarkhani is the traditional food/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.[96]

Shopping

Shopping in Dhaka is very easy. There are markets in almost every part of Dhaka, where household commodities are available. Shopping malls are also found in every major avenues; some of them are Dhaka New Market, Basundhara City, Rapa plaza, Metro Shopping mall, Concord Twin Tower, BCS Computer City, Navana Tower, Pink city shopping mall, Mouchak Market, Eastern Plaza, Fortune mall, Eastern plus, Banga Bazar, Razdhani market, Gausia complex, Holland Centre, Suvastu Nazar Valley, Cofidence Tower, Mollah tower, Lutfun tower, Eastern Mallika, Muskut plaza, North Tower, Razlaksmi complex, Multiplan Center and many more. Kudrat E Khuda Avenue (former New Elephant Road), and its surrounding areas are very popular destination for shoppers. Jamuna Future Park is one of biggest shopping mall in the world with 4 million square feet shopping area. Chain shops like Shopno, Agora, Meena Bazar, Nandon, PQS are also found in most of the residential areas of the city. There are many branches of Aarong around the city where local products including clothings, handicrafts, groceries and home decors are available in a wide range.

Banga Bazar is the largest hawkers market in Dhaka. The market is situated near Chankharpul behind the campus of the University of Dhaka. This place is famous for years for garment’s cloths in a reasonable price. It is a favourite shopping place for many foreigners visiting Bangladesh.

Dress

The most popular dressing style for women are the traditional sahri and shalowar kamiz, while men usually prefer western clothing to the traditional lungi. This area is also credited for the revival of the Jamdani due to the many local saree stores selling and promoting these locally hand-made age old traditional Bengali sarees. Jamdanis are 100% hand weaved and originate from the Persian and Mughal era. Jamdanis are produced by a traditional high quality cottage industry, which is slowly dying out due to the slow production process. A single medium range Jamdani saree may take as long as 3 months to complete.[97]

Education

Curzon Hall of the University of Dhaka. The university served as the prime center for political activism amongst the youth and intellectuals during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

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 5), Junior (from grades 6 to 8), Secondary (from grades 9 to 10), Higher Secondary (from grades 11 to 12) and tertiary.[98] The five years of Primary education concludes with a Primary Education Completion (PEC) 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.[98] Education is mainly offered in Bangla, but English is also widely taught and used. A large number of 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 Bangla and Arabic in schools, colleges and madrasas.[98]

Civil Engineering building at BUET

There are 52 universities in Dhaka. The Dhaka College is the oldest institution of higher education in the city and amongst the earliest established in British India, founded in 1841. Since independence, Dhaka has seen the establishment of a large number of public and private colleges and universities that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as a variety of doctoral programmes.[99] The University of Dhaka is one of the largest public university[100] in the nation with more than 30,000 students and 1,300 faculty staff. It was established in 1921 being the first university in the region. The university has 23 research centres and 70 departments, faculties and institutes.[101] 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 Sir Salimullah Medical College are two famous medical colleges in the nation.[102] Dhaka's college campuses are often hotbeds of political conflicts.[103] Protests and strikes, and violence amongst police, students and political groups frequently disrupt public university campuses.[104][105]

Alongside public institutes of higher education there are some forty-five private universities in Dhaka. Notable private universities include East West University, North South University, American International University - Bangladesh, BRAC University, United International University, Daffodil International University, World University of Bangladesh, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology and Independent University, Bangladesh (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 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

A view of Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium from South Gallery

Cricket and football are the two most popular sports in Dhaka and across the nation.[106] Teams are fielded in intra-city and national competitions by a large number of schools, colleges and private entities. The Mohammedan Sports Club and Abahani are two of the most famous football and cricket teams, maintaining a fierce rivalry, specially in Bangladesh Premier League (football).[107] Dhaka Metropolis cricket team represents Dhaka city in National Cricket League, a region based domestic first-class cricket competition in Bangladesh. In domestic Twenty20 cricket, Dhaka has a Bangladesh Premier League franchise known as Dhaka Gladiators.

Dhaka has the distinction of having hosted the first official Test cricket match of the Pakistan cricket team in 1954 against India.[108] The Bangabandhu National Stadium was formerly the main venue for domestic and international cricket matches, but now exclusively hosts football matches.[108] It was the host for the opening ceremony[109] of the 2011 Cricket World Cup while the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium hosted 6 matches of the tournament including 2 quarterfinals.[110] Dhaka also hosted South Asian Games for three times in 1985, 1993 and 2010.[111] Dhaka is the first city to hold the games three times. The Bangabandhu National Stadium was the main venue for all three editions.[112]

The Bangladesh Sports Control Board, 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.[113] The Dhaka University Ground and The BUET Sports Ground host many intercollegiate tournaments.[114] They are also used as practice ground by different football clubs and visiting foreign national sides.

Transport

CNG Auto rickshaws in Dhaka

Dhaka is known as the rickshaw capital of the world.[115][116][117] Approximately 400,000 rickshaws run each day.[118] Cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws are the main mode of transport, with close to 400,000 rickshaws running each day – the largest number for any city in the world.[68][70] However, only about 85,000 rickshaws are licensed by the city government.[69][119] Relatively low-cost and non-polluting cycle rickshaws, nevertheless, cause traffic congestion and have been banned from many parts of the city. Public buses are operated by the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and by private companies and operators.

Kamalapur Railway Station

Scooters, taxis and privately owned automobiles are rapidly becoming popular with the city's growing middle class. 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.[120] Taxis plying in the Dhaka roads are of two types. Yellow taxis have slightly higher standards in terms of comfort but are more expensive. They are required to have air conditioning; the fleet consists mostly of Toyota Corollas. Blue and black taxis are cheaper and lack air conditioning; the fleet consists mostly of Maruti 800. As of April 2013, some 2,000-2,500 taxis of 11,260 registered ones were operating in the capital.[121] The Government decided to import 5,000 new taxis with the engine capacity of 1,500cc. The government also plans to raise the total number of taxis to 18,000 gradually.[121]

As of 1986, Dhaka has 1,868 kilometres (1,161 mi) of paved roads.[122] It is connected to the other parts of the country through highway and railway links. Highway links to the Indian cities of Kolkata and Agartala have been established by the BRTC which also runs regular bus services to those cities from Dhaka.[123]

The Kamalapur Railway Station, Airport (Biman Bandar) Railway Station and the Cantonment Railway Station are the main railway stations providing trains on suburban and national routes operated by the state-run Bangladesh Railway.[124] Bangladesh Railway also runs a regular international train service between Dhaka and Kolkata. Since April 2013, Bangladesh Railway has been operating commuter rail service in suburban areas as well as to neighboring Narayanganj city using DEMU trains.[125]

The Sadarghat Port on the banks of the Buriganga River serves for the transport of goods and passengers upriver and to other ports in Bangladesh.[126]

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Steamers moving in the Sadarghat Port

The Shahjalal International Airport, located 15 km north of Dhaka city centre, is the largest and busiest airport in the nation.[127] It handles 52% of the country's arrivals and departures. Domestic service flies to Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Barisal, Saidpur and international services fly to major cities in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Western Europe.[128][129]

An elevated expressway system is under construction.[130] 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.[131]

The Dhaka Metro feasibility study has been completed. A 21.5 kilometer, $1.7 Billion Phase 1, metro route is being negotiated by the Government with Japan International Cooperation Agency. The first route will start from Pallabi, northern suburb of Dhaka to Sayedabad, southern section of Dhaka.[132]

Media and communications

  • Postal service: The Bangladeshi postal service, commonly known as Bangladesh Post Office, headquartered in Dhaka, is responsible for providing postal service throughout the country.[133]

Sister cities

Country City State / Region
China China Guangzhou Guangdong Province
India India Kolkata West Bengal

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dhaka, Bangladesh Map". National Geographic. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  2. ^ "No. 1: Dhaka, Bangladesh - In Photos: The World's Densest Megacities". Forbes. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  3. ^ [1].
  4. ^ http://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=1562
  5. ^ "PAKISTAN: Dacca, City of the Dead". Time. 3 May 1971. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  6. ^ World Bank (30 July 2010). Country Assistance Strategy for the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the Period FY11-14, page 4.
  7. ^ "Statistical Pocket Book, 2008" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  8. ^ Lawson, Alastair (5 October 2002). "Dhaka's beleaguered rickshaw wallahs". BBC News. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  9. ^ "everything about our city". Dhaka City. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  10. ^ Md Mashrur Rahman Mishu (7 August 2010). "Historic Dhaka city: Past glory and present crisis". Archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  11. ^ Shay, Christopher (15 August 2011). "Travel - Saving Dhaka's heritage : History, Bangladesh". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  12. ^ "CNN report on Bangladeshi art". Business.blogs.cnn.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Dhaka, Islamic Capital of Culture for the Asian Region". Isesco.org.ma. 20 September 1992. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  14. ^ "The World's Fastest-Growing Megacities". Forbes. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Danger in Dhaka, the fastest-growing city". BBC News. 7 July 2010.
  16. ^ "Islam Khan Chisti". Banglapedia. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Dhaka". britannica.com. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Dhaka". Banglapedia. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  19. ^ Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud (2001). South Asia: Eastern Himalayan Culture, Ecology and People. Dhaka: Academic Press and Publishers. ISBN 984-08-0165-1.
  20. ^ Nagendra K. Singh (2003). Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh (Hardcover). Anmol Publications. p. 19. ISBN 81-261-1390-1.
  21. ^ Taru Bahl & M.H. Syed (2003). Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World. Anmol Publications PVT. p. 55. ISBN 81-261-1419-3.
  22. ^ a b "Dhaka". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
  23. ^ a b c d Chowdhury, A.M. (23 April 2007). "Dhaka". Banglapedia. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g Roy, Pinaki (28 July 2008). "Golden past of olden Dhaka". The Daily Star. Retrieved 21 March 2009.[dead link]
  25. ^ Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt (1906). The Romance of an Eastern Capital. Smith, Elder, & Co. p. 264. ISBN 1-150-52170-8.
  26. ^ M. Atiqullah and F. Karim Khan (1965). Growth of Dacca City: Population and Area (1608–1981). Social Science Research Project, University of Dacca Press. p. 6.
  27. ^ M. Atiqullah and F. Karim Khan (1965). Growth of Dacca City: Population and Area (1608–1981). Social Science Research Project, University of Dacca Press. p. 7. With the growth of Calcutta (founded by Job Charnock in 1690), the business centres started moving to Calcutta followed by flight of capital and labour force from Dacca. By 1800, Calcutta became a city of 500 thousands, (Ghosh, 1950 pp 53–54) and Dacca declined to 200 thousands, the population of 160 years before.
  28. ^ H Furumai, F Kurisu & H Katayama (2008). Southeast Asian Water Environment 2: Selected Papers from the Second International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment. IWA Publishing. p. 205. ISBN 1-84339-124-4.
  29. ^ Mohammad Atiqullah & Fazle Karim Khan (1965). Growth of Dacca City: Population and Area, 1608–1981. University of Dacca. p. 10.
  30. ^ a b c d Richards, John (2002). "Calcutta and Dhaka: A tale of two cities". Inroads. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  31. ^ The Feminist Review Collective (28 March 1991). Feminist Review (Issue 37). Routledge. p. 40. ISBN 0-415-06536-4.
  32. ^ "Timeline: Major tropical cyclones". BBC News. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  33. ^ Srivastava, H. N. (2006). Management of natural disasters in developing countries. Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries. p. 14. ISBN 81-7035-425-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ Archer Blood. "Transcript of Selective Genocide Telex" (PDF). Department of State, United States. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  35. ^ Sheren, Syeda Momtaz. "War of Liberation, The". Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  36. ^ "BANGLADESH: Jobless rural poor rush to the cities" (PHP). Integrated Regional Information Networks: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  37. ^ United Nations Human Settlements Program, United Nations Human Settlements Program (2007). Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007. Earthscan. p. 184. ISBN 1-84407-479-X.
  38. ^ "Improved System for Disaster Mitigation and Environmental Management in Bangladesh" (PDF). Regional United Nations Centre for Regional Development, Dhaka. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  39. ^ "Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Paurashava" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  40. ^ a b c Banglapedia (27 September 2006). "Dhaka Division". Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  41. ^ Hough, Michael (2004). Cities and natural process. Routledge. pp. 64–65. ISBN 0-415-29855-5.
  42. ^ a b "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Dhaka, Bangladesh". weatherbase.com. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  43. ^ a b Mondal, M. Abdul Latif (27 September 2006). "Our Cities: 15th Anniversary Special". The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  44. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Dhaka, Bangladesh". Weatherbase. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  45. ^ "Bangladesh - Dacca" (in Spanish). Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  46. ^ "Average Conditions - Bangladesh - Dhaka". BBC. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  47. ^ Dhaka City Corporation. "City Corporation" (PHP). Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  48. ^ "East Pakistan Intermediate and Secondary Education Ordinance, 1961 (East Pakistan Ordinance No. XXX population III of 1961)". Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Bangladesh. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  49. ^ "Education Board Bangladesh". Ministry of Education, Intermediate and Secondary Education Boards, Bangladesh. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  50. ^ "THE MADRASAH EDUCATION ORDINANCE, 1978 (ORDINANCE NO. IX OF 1978)". Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Bangladesh. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  51. ^ "History of the DMP". Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  52. ^ "DMP — New Initiatives". Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  53. ^ "Bangabhaban". Banglapedia.
  54. ^ "Baitul Mukarram-the National Mosque of Bangladesh". Bangladesh Embassy, Bhutan. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  55. ^ Marika McAdam (2004). Bangladesh. Lonely Planet. pp. 46–52. ISBN 1-74059-280-8.
  56. ^ "Town planning for Bangladesh : Vision 2020". The Daily Star. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.[dead link]
  57. ^ Mondo, M. Abdul Latif (27 September 2006). "Our Cities: 15th Anniversary Special". The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  58. ^ "Dhaka 'winning' waste disposal battle". BBC News. 30 October 2002. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  59. ^ a b c Taqsem Khan:The performance challenges of Dhaka WASA, in Global Water Intelligence:Focusing on performance, Global Water Summit 2011, p. 50-52.
  60. ^ The Daily Star (26 April 2011). "Wasa awarded for improved management". Dhaka. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  61. ^ Azharul Haq, Khondaker (2006). "Water Management in Dhaka". Water Resources Development. 22 (2): 291–311. doi:10.1080/07900620600677810. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help), p. 296
  62. ^ Wadud, Mushfique (15 August 2011). "Dhaka turns to rainwater harvesting to ease water crisis". Alertnet. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  63. ^ Institute for Water Modelling, 2009
  64. ^ Asian Development Bank (ADB) (2007). "Proposed Loans and Technical Assistance Grant. People's Republic of Bangladesh: Dhaka Water Supply Sector Development Programme" (PDF). Retrieved 28 April 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help), p. 34-35
  65. ^ OOSKAnews, 19 October 2012, reporting about a decision by Bangladesh's Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 16 October 2012.
  66. ^ OOSKAnews, 19 October 2012
  67. ^ "Dhaka". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
  68. ^ a b c d e f Lawson, Alistair (1 June 2002). "Good times for bourgeois Bangladeshis". BBC News. Retrieved 2 October 2006.
  69. ^ a b c d e f McGee, Terry (27 September 2006). "Urbanization Takes on New Dimensions in Asia's Population Giants". Population Reference Bureau. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  70. ^ a b "Does Dhaka need rickshaws?". BBC News. 20 July 1998. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  71. ^ Robert Cervero (2000). Informal Transport in the Developing World. UN-HABITAT. p. 39. ISBN 92-1-131453-4.
  72. ^ Dhaka City Corporation. "Economy" (PHP). Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  73. ^ a b "Global city GDP rankings 2008–2025". Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  74. ^ "Asian City Development Strategies: Dhaka" (PDF). Fukuoka Conference 2000, Cities Alliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  75. ^ Rizwanul, Islam (1986). Bangladesh, selected issues in employment and development. International Labour Organisation, Asian Employment Programme (ARTEP). p. 33. ISBN 92-2-105769-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  76. ^ "Dhaka City State of Environment" (PDF). Regional Resource Center for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme. 2005. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  77. ^ "Dhaka clothes factories to reopen". BBC News. 6 June 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  78. ^ "Blind eye to urban poor to spell social disaster:Conference on the poor told". The Daily Star. 5 December 2007.
  79. ^ "Poverty Alleviation: Yunus calls for major reforms in World Bank". The Daily Star. 5 November 2007.[dead link]
  80. ^ NASA, Scientific Visualization Studio (12 December 2001). "Dhaka, Bangladesh Urban Growth" (MPEG). Retrieved 30 April 2007.
  81. ^ Newgeography.com. "Evolving Urban Form: Dhaka". Newgeography.com. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  82. ^ "Planet of Slums by Mike Davis". Asia Times. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  83. ^ "::Our Cities::15th Anniversary Special". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  84. ^ "Govt ready to offer nationality to Urdu-speaking people: Moni". The Financial Express. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  85. ^ "Socio-economic Problems of the Urdu Speaking Residents at Mohammadpur" (PDF). Democracy Watch. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  86. ^ Persoob, Tasmia. "The Forgotten Community: Camp Based Urdu Speaking People in Bangladesh" (PDF). Jahangirnagar University. Retrieved 12 April 2011.[dead link]
  87. ^ Jeremy Seabrook (1996). In the Cities of the South: Scenes from a Developing World. Verso Books. p. 221. ISBN 1-85984-081-7.
  88. ^ World and Its Peoples. Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 2008. p. 489. ISBN 0-7614-7631-8.
  89. ^ a b Ahmed, Dr. Nizamuddin (27 September 2006). "Happy 400th anniversary, Dhaka!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  90. ^ Thomas Angotti & Lothar Beckel (2001). Mega Cities. GEOSPACE Beckel Satellitenb. p. 730. ISBN 3-85313-051-8.
  91. ^ Alison Arnold (1999). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: The Indian Subcontinent. Routledge. pp. 858–859. ISBN 0-8240-4946-2.
  92. ^ Ian Herbert & Nicole Leclercq (2000). The World of Theatre. Taylor & Francis. p. 12. ISBN 0-415-23866-8.
  93. ^ A. F. Salahuddin Ahmed & Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury (2004). Bangladesh, National Culture, and Heritage: An Introductory Reader. Independent University. p. 405. ISBN 984-8509-00-3.
  94. ^ John Simpson (2006). The Traveler's Handbook. Globe Pequot. p. 195. ISBN 0-7627-4090-6.
  95. ^ "Mobile Phone Subscribers in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission". Btrc.gov.bd. Retrieved 27 October 2010.[dead link]
  96. ^ Melvin Ember, Carol R. Ember (2002). Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures : Cayenne-Kyoto: Cities and Cultures Around the World. Grolier. p. 147. ISBN 0-7172-5698-7.
  97. ^ Roy, Tirthankar (2007). "Out of Tradition: Master Artisans and Economic Change in Colonial India". The Journal of Asian Studies. 66. Cambridge University Press: 963–991.
  98. ^ a b c T. Neville Postlethwaite (1988). The Encyclopedia of Comparative Education and National Systems of Education. Pergamon Press. p. 130. ISBN 0-08-030853-8.
  99. ^ Kamal Siddiqui (1990). "Growth of academic institutions". Social Formation in Dhaka City: A Study in Third World Urban Sociology. Dhaka: University Press Limited. p. 42.
  100. ^ "Dhaka teachers on violence charge". BBC News. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  101. ^ University of Dhaka.03710. (10 September 2006). "Univ. Facts". Archived from the original (PHP) on 4 September 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  102. ^ Muhammad Shamsul Huq (1983). Higher Education and Employment in Bangladesh. UNESCO. p. 181.
  103. ^ Alistair, Lawson (24 July 2002). "Uneasy calm after Bangladesh riot". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2006.
  104. ^ Hossain, Moazzem (2 September 2002). "Bangladesh students call strike". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2006.
  105. ^ Hossain, Moazzem (2 September 2002). "Protests shut Bangladeshi university". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2006.
  106. ^ Robert MacHenry, ed. (1993). "Bangladesh". The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. p. 717. ISBN 0-85229-571-5.
  107. ^ Al Musabbir Sadi (17 June 2007). "Tasty derby drawn". The Daily Star.
  108. ^ a b "Stadium". ESPNcricinfo. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2006. Cite error: The named reference "First test" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  109. ^ "Cricket World Cup: Grand ceremony launches tournament". BBC. 17 February 2011.
  110. ^ "ICC Cricket World Cup 2010/11 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  111. ^ National Sports Council, Nepal "South Asian Games"[dead link]. Retrieved 16 February 2011
  112. ^ "11th South Asian Games to start in January 2010". Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  113. ^ "Grounds – Bangladesh: Dhaka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  114. ^ Muhammad Abdur Rahim (1981). The History of the University of Dacca. University of Dacca. p. 161.
  115. ^ Lawson, Alastair (10 May 2002). "Dhaka's beleaguered rickshaw wallahs". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  116. ^ "rickshaw: Dhaka". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  117. ^ Menchetti, Peter (24 March 2005). "Cycle Rickshaws in Dhaka, Bangladesh" (PDF). Thesis for Amsterdam University. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  118. ^ Lawson, Alastair (5 October 2002). "Dhaka". BBC News. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  119. ^ Rizanuzzaman Laskar (4 March 2007). "Rickshaw pullers get licences". The Daily Star.
  120. ^ Rahman, Mushfiqur (2003). "Compressed Natural Gas". In Islam, Sirajul (ed.). [[Banglapedia]]: National encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh s. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 17 January 2008. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help); line feed character in |publisher= at position 34 (help)
  121. ^ a b "Govt to import 5,000 taxis". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 10 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  122. ^ Sharif Uddin Ahmed (1986). Dacca: A Study in Urban History and Development. Curzon Press. p. 108. ISBN 0-913215-14-7.
  123. ^ Lawson, Alastair (13 October 2003). "Passengers shun Dhaka-India bus". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  124. ^ Marika McAdam (2004). Bangladesh. Lonely Planet. p. 66. ISBN 1-74059-280-8.
  125. ^ "PM inaugurates Dhaka-Narayanganj DEMU train". Bdnews24.com. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-015. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  126. ^ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (2005). "Dhaka". Asian Highway Handbook. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Publications. p. 28. ISBN 92-1-120170-5.
  127. ^ Alam, Jobair Bin (2003). "Air Transport". In Islam, Sirajul (ed.). [[Banglapedia]]: National encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 17 January 2008. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  128. ^ "Biman's Destination: International Destinations". Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
  129. ^ "Dhaka - Zia International Airport (DAC)". World Executive. OE Interactive.
  130. ^ "No more push for PPP initiative". thedailystar. 10 June 2011.
  131. ^ "Govt plans to build 2nd expressway". daily-sun. 22 June 2011.
  132. ^ "Muhith to sit with armed forces to resolve metro rail site dispute". thefinancialexpress. 25 June 2011.
  133. ^ "Bangladesh Post Office". Bangladeshpost.gov.bd. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  134. ^ "Country profile: Bangladesh". BBC News. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  135. ^ "Daily Prothom Alo". Prothom-alo.com. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  136. ^ "The Daily Star". 28 April 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  137. ^ "Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha". Bssnews.net. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  138. ^ Prof. Sirajul Islam. "Banglapedia Article on Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha". Banglapedia.org. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  139. ^ "Bangladesh Television". Bangladesh Television. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  140. ^ "Bangladesh Betar-The state owned radio station of Bangladesh". Bangladesh Betar. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.

http://diaryfrombangladesh.com/

Further reading

  • Sharuf Uddin Ahmed, ed. (1991). Dhaka -past present future. The Asiatic Society, Dhaka. ISBN 984-512-335-X.
  • Karim, Abdul (1992). History of Bengal, Mughal Period (I). Rajshahi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Pryer, Jane (2003). Poverty and Vulnerability in Dhaka Slums: The Urban Livelihood Study. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 0-7546-1864-1. OCLC 123337526 OCLC 243482310 OCLC 50334244 OCLC 50939515.
  • Rabbani, Golam (1997). Dhaka, from Mughal outpost to metropolis. University Press, Dhaka. ISBN 984-05-1374-5.
  • Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1948). History of Bengal (II). Dhaka.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Taifoor, S.M. (1956). Glimpses of Old Dacca. Dhaka.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Dhaka travel guide from Wikivoyage