Dhaka

Quick Facts: Who was Dhaka?

Subject:

Dhaka

Known for:

Capital and largest city of Bangladesh, a major cultural and economic hub.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Dhaka ( DAH-kə or DAK-ə; Bengali: ঢাকা, romanized: Ḍhākā, pronounced [ˈɖʱaka] ), formerly spelled as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. With an estimated population of 36.6 million, Dhaka is the second largest city by population in the world, and is widely considered to be the most densely populated built-up urban area in the world. Dhaka is an important cultural, economic, and scientific hub of Eastern South Asia. Dhaka ranks fourth in South Asia and 55th in the world in terms of GDP. Lying on the Ganges Delta, it is bounded by the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari and Shitalakshya rivers.

Career & Major Achievements

It is also the largest Bengali-speaking city in the world. The area of Dhaka has been inhabited since the first millennium. An early modern city developed from the 17th century as a provincial capital and commercial centre of the Mughal Empire. Dhaka was the capital of a proto-industrialized Mughal Bengal for 75 years (1608–39 and 1660–1704). It was the hub of the muslin trade in Bengal and one of the most prosperous cities in the world.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Mughal city was named Jahangirnagar (The City of Jahangir) in honour of the erstwhile ruling emperor Jahangir. The city's wealthy Mughal elite included princes and the sons of Mughal emperors. The pre-colonial city's glory peaked in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was home to merchants from across Eurasia. The Port of Dhaka was a major trading hub for both riverine and maritime commerce. The Mughals decorated the city with well-laid gardens, tombs, mosques, palaces, and forts.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1608: 1608 Milestone — Dhaka was the capital of a proto-industrialized Mughal Bengal for 75 years (1608–39 and 1660–1704).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Dhaka

True or False: “Dhaka was always the primary capital of Bengal throughout its entire recorded history.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Before Dhaka's prominence, other areas like Gour and Sonargaon served as significant capitals or administrative centers for Bengal.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alberico Gentili — Historical peer (Died in 1608) (1608): Italian jurist, 'Father of international law', and Regius Professor at Oxford.
• Bolotnikov rebellion — Historical peer (Died in 1608) (1608): Russian rebel leader who headed the major uprising during the Time of Troubles (1606–1607).
• Daniel Defoe — Historical peer (Born in 1660) (1660): Pioneering English novelist, journalist, and merchant of the early 18th century.
• Diego Velázquez — Historical peer (Died in 1660) (1660): Master of the Spanish Baroque, celebrated for court portraiture and technical brilliance.
• Guillaume de l'Hôpital — Historical peer (Died in 1704) (1704): Pioneering French mathematician, known for l'Hôpital's rule and differential calculus.
• Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber — Historical peer (Died in 1704) (1704): Master Baroque composer and violinist, renowned for his technical brilliance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dhaka