Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. Located in an eponymous district and division, it lies along the east bank of the Buriganga River in the heart of the Bengal delta. Dhaka is the economic, cultural and political centre of Bangladesh. It is a major financial centre of South Asia. It is one of the world’s most populated cities. The most affluent areas of Dhaka are located in Gulshan -1, Banasree, Baridhara DOHS, Bashundhara R/A, Banani, and Uttara Model Town. 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. The city is home to a number of regional and international training and development organizations, such as permanent secretariat of BIMSTEC. The city has the largest number of cycle rickshaws and is known as the Rickshaw Capital of the World. Dhaka has a tropical savanna climate. Dhaka is the economic and business centre of the country.
History: At the height of its medieval glory, Dhaka was regarded as one of the wealthiest and most prosperous cities in the world. It served as the capital of the Bengal province of the Mughal Empire twice (1608–39 and 1660–1704). 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. It was a cosmopolitan commercial centre 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. It was also described as the Venice of the East. The old city was home to various Eurasian merchant groups. The city hosted two important caravansaries of the subcontinent: the Bara Katra and Choto Katra, located on the riverfront of the Buriganga. Modern Dhaka developed from the late 20th century. Between 1905 and 1912, it was the capital of British Eastern Bengal and Assam. In 1947, after ending of British rule, it became the administrative capital of East Pakistan. It was declared as the legislative capital of Pakistan in 1962. In 1971, it became the capital of an independent Bangladesh.
*(All the above information are from Wikipedia.)
Transport
Airport: The Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka is the biggest and the busiest airport in the country. There is international flight connectivity to many Asian, European and Middle Eastern cities. While there are domestic flights to many of the districts within Bangladesh like Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Cox’s Bazar, Jessore, Barisal, Saidpur.
Rail: Regular express train services connect Dhaka with major cities of Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Rangpur. The Maitree Express runs from Dhaka to Kolkata as a part of international rail transport. There is a proposed plan for Metro Rail within the city.
Road: Dhaka is connected to all major districts within Bangladesh by road. State-owned and private sector operates buses to every part of the country.
Waterways: The 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. Inter-city and inter-district motor vessels and passenger-ferry services are used by many people to travel through the riverine regions of the country from the city.
Local: Auto rickshaws and buses are available for transportation within the city. Tour operators provide vehicles for hire. Manual rickshaws are the most popular mode of transportation for short distances. Waterbus services are available on Buriganga River and Hatirjheel and Gulshan lakes. Water buses of Buriganga River ferry passengers on Sadarghat to Gabtoli route. 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.
Tourist Interest
Jatiyo Smriti Soudho: National Martyrs’ Memorial or the Jatiyo Smriti Soudho is the national monument of Bangladesh, set up in the memory of the valour and the sacrifice of all those who gave their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
Central Shaheed Minar: The Shaheed Minar is a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established to commemorate those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952 in then East Pakistan.
Lalbagh Fort: Lalbagh Fort is an incomplete 17th-century Mughal fort complex that stands before the Buriganga River in the southwestern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban: Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban or National Parliament House, is the house of the Parliament of Bangladesh, located at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.
Dhakeshwari Temple: Dhakeshwari National Temple is a Hindu temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh’s ‘National Temple’.
Ahsan Manzil: Ahsan Manzil was the official residential palace and seat of the Nawab of Dhaka. The building is situated at Kumartuli along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Construction was started in 1859 and was completed in 1872.
Bangabhaban: The Bangabhaban is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Bangladesh, located on Bangabhaban Road, and short road connecting Dilkusha Avenue, Dhaka.
Sadarghat: It is 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.
Ramna Park: Ramna Park is a large park and recreation area situated in the heart of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. This park is one of the most beautiful areas in Dhaka with lots of trees and a lake near its centre.
The other places of interest are the Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Armenian Church, Curzon Hall, Botanical Garden, Hatirjheel and many others.
Hotels: There are many hotels in Dhaka and online booking is available in many of the hotels. We stayed in Hotel Amazon Lily in Banani area.