View source for Port of Dhaka

{{Redirect|Sadarghat}}
{{Infobox port
| name = Port of Dhaka<br />ঢাকা সদরঘাট
| image =বুড়িগঙ্গা ৩.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| country = {{BAN}}
| location =[[Dhaka|Dhaka Metropolitan Area]]
| coordinates = {{WikidataCoord|display=it}}
| pushpin_map = Bangladesh
| locode = BGDAC<ref name="Locode-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (BG) - BANGLADESH |url=https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/bg.htm |website=service.unece.org |accessdate=22 April 2020}}</ref>
| opened = 17th century
| operated =
| owner = [[Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority]]
| type =[[River port]]
| sizewater =
| sizeland =
| size =
| berths =
| wharfs =
| piers =
| employees =
| leadershiptitle =
| leader =
| blankdetailstitle1 =
| blankdetails1 =
| blankdetailstitle2 =
| blankdetails2 =
| blankdetailstitle3 =
| blankdetails3 =
| arrivals =
| cargotonnage =
| containervolume =
| cargovalue =
| passengertraffic =
| revenue =
| profit =
| blankstatstitle1 =
| blankstats1 =
| blankstatstitle2 =
| blankstats2 =
| blankstatstitle3 =
| blankstats3 =
| website =
}}
{{Transport in Dhaka}}
The '''Port of Dhaka''' is a major [[river port]] on the [[Buriganga River]] in [[Dhaka]], the capital and largest city of [[Bangladesh]]. The port is located in the southern part of the city. It is Bangladesh's busiest port in terms of passenger traffic. The port has services to most of the [[districts of Bangladesh]]. In 2013, a [[Port of Pangaon|container terminal]] opened {{convert|20|km}} from the city to handle ocean-going ships. Along with Barisal, Chandpur and [[Port of Narayanganj|Narayanganj]]; the Dhaka port handled 53 million tonnes of cargo and 22 million passengers in 2013–14.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/45434 |title=World Bank to give Bangladesh $360m for waterway project |work=The Independent |location=Dhaka |date=2016-05-29 |accessdate=2017-07-23}}</ref>

==History==
The Dhaka river port has a recorded existence since the [[Mughal Empire]]. The Mughal viceroy's [[Lalbagh Fort|fortress]] was built by the port in the 17th century. Dhaka's strategic riverine location in [[Mughal Bengal|Bengal]] made it a hub for [[Eurasian]] traders, including [[Armenians in Dhaka|Armenians]], the Portuguese, French, Dutch and British. The city's riverbanks were dotted with mansions, bazaars and warehouses.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/letters/dhaka-saving-old-dhaka%E2%80%99s-landmarks |title=Dhaka &#124; Saving Old Dhaka's Landmarks |magazine=The Caravan |date=2015-09-09 |accessdate=2017-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909110251/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/letters/dhaka-saving-old-dhaka%E2%80%99s-landmarks |archive-date=2015-09-09 }}</ref> The bustling old city was known as the ''Venice of the East''.<ref name="Hough2004">{{cite book|author=Michael Hough|title=Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pj8cderhbr8C&pg=PA57|year=2004|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-29854-4|page=57}}</ref> It was used for exports of cotton [[muslin]], [[silk]], [[jute]], rice and other goods. During [[British Bengal|British rule]], the riverfront hosted the offices of the Magistrate and Collector; and became the center of the colonial city.<ref name="banglapedia1">{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Sadarghat |title=Sadarghat |website=Banglapedia |date=2015-03-18 |accessdate=2017-07-23}}</ref> Bengali aristocrats built numerous palaces on the riverfront, including [[Ahsan Manzil]] and [[Ruplal House]]. The British developed [[ghat]]s ([[wharf]]s), such as ''Wiseghat'', ''Sadarghat'' and ''[[Northbrook Hall]] ghat''.<ref name="banglapedia2">{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Buckland_Bund |title=Buckland Bund |website=Banglapedia |date=2015-02-23 |accessdate=2017-07-23}}</ref> [[Paddle steamer]]s were a common sight. The [[Viceroy of India]] often traveled by ship from Calcutta to Dhaka's riverside palaces for balls and parties.

[[File:Panorama of Dacca 19th century 1.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Panorama of the Dacca waterfront in the 19th century]]
[[File:Bibi Mariam.jpg|thumb|The [[Bibi Mariam Cannon]] was used to defend the city's waterfront]]

===Buckland Bund===
The [[Buckland Bund]] was an embankment constructed in 1864 under a scheme undertaken by the City Commissioner C. T. Buckland to protect Dhaka from flooding and river erosion, prevent formation of mud-flats along the bank and facilitate movement of passengers and cargo at the river ghat (wharf). The scheme, designed to be implemented by public subscription, also included construction of a [[promenade]] behind the bund to beautify the waterfront. Among the first to donate funds for the project were [[Khwaja Abdul Ghani|Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani]] and the Zamindar of Bhawal, Kalinarayan Roy. Despite considerable success in collecting subscriptions from the wealthy people of Dhaka, the funds generated proved insufficient for the project. Buckland then persuaded the government to provide support. Initially, the embankment on the riverfront from near the northbrook hall Ghat to Wiseghat was undertaken with provision for extensions eastward and westward upon availability of more funds.<ref name="banglapedia2"/>

The embankment was fortified with stone, and the top laid with bricks. Near sadarghat, part of the strand was left green, and was later turned into a miniature park with a raised dais where visiting dignitaries could be received on landing from steamers and where a local regimental band played daily in the afternoon for the entertainment of the people. The strand became an attraction to the city and a boon and was used as a promenade overlooking the river with its busy traffic, where people could stroll in the afternoon and evening while enjoying the cool breeze from the river. In the 1870s, Nawab Abdul Ghani undertook its extension westward from Wiseghat and in the 1880s, Babu Ruplal Das and Raghunath Das extended it eastward from near Northbrook Hall.<ref name="banglapedia2"/>

The embankment eventually extended to about one and half kilometre in length and was later handed over to the municipality for maintenance.<ref name="banglapedia2"/>

==Sadarghat==
The Sadarghat means City Wharf. It stands a little left in front of the Ahsan Manzil. Sadarghat is also the central point of the Buckland Bund. Originally, it was built as a place for landing of boats, launches and even ships coming to Dhaka from other places. Large vessels can no longer use it because of shoaling up of the river bed entry and an overall downsizing of the  capacity of the inland waterways.<ref name="banglapedia1"/>
[[File:Sadarghat Dhaka (122210995).jpeg|thumb|Sadarghat, Dhaka]]
Hundreds of boats and launches arrive at and depart from Sadarghat facilitating communication mostly with the southern districts. [[Barge]]s carrying cargoes also use Sadarghat as a point of landing and departure. Sadarghat also has a [[floating market]] for fruits and vegetables. The Sadarghat has a busy terminal for [[Riverboat|steamer]]s that carry passengers to districts and regional cities such as [[Khulna]]. Many parts of Dhaka city are connected with Sadarghat by a road parallel to the river. On either side of the road are many [[wholesale]] shops.<ref name="banglapedia1"/> along with the Portuguese fort.

==Pangaon==
The [[Port of Pangaon]] is an inland container terminal with a capacity to handle 116,000 [[twenty-foot equivalent unit]]s of cargo each year. It serves as a cargo port for the Dhaka Metropolitan Area. As of July 2017, it serves ships traveling between Dhaka and [[Chittagong]], Dhaka and [[Port of Mongla|Mongla]] and Dhaka and [[Kolkata]]. Bangladesh has signed coastal shipping agreements with [[Thailand]] and [[China]], which are planned to cover the Pangaon terminal.

==River pollution==
The contemporary polluted water of the Buriganga River has been a major challenge for Dhaka's health and hygiene. Once the lifeline of the Bangladeshi capital, the river is now one of the most polluted rivers in Bangladesh due to rampant dumping of industrial and human waste.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangladesh river pollution threatens millions |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-rivers-idUSTRE54I04G20090519 |work=Reuters |date=2009-05-17 |accessdate=2017-07-23}}</ref> However, water quality saw an improvement in 2016–17, due to the government compelling [[tanneries]] along the river to relocate to other areas.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/pollution-waste-buriganga-water-shows-signs-improvement-1379428 |title=Water pollution: Buriganga shows signs of improvement |work=The Daily Star |accessdate=2017-07-23}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Port of Chittagong]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ports in Bangladesh}}

[[Category:Old Dhaka]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Bangladesh|Dhaka]]
[[Category:Economy of Dhaka]]
[[Category:Transport in Dhaka]]
[[Category:River ports of Bangladesh|Dhaka]]