Dhaka: Difference between revisions
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* [[Baitul Mukarram]] - The national [[mosque]]. |
* [[Baitul Mukarram]] - The national [[mosque]]. |
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* [[Bangabandhu stadium]] - The national [[stadium]]. |
* [[Bangabandhu stadium]] - The national [[stadium]]. |
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[[Image:Parliament_3_Faisal.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban(rear view), designed by [[Louis I. Kahn]], houses the National Parliament of [[Bangladesh]]. Photo by Faisal Zafar]] |
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==Demographics== |
==Demographics== |
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Revision as of 16:35, 17 June 2006
Dhaka | |
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| File:Dhaka-panorama.jpg | |
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| Country Administrative District | Bangladesh Dhaka District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sadeque Hossain Khoka |
| Population (2003 est.) | |
• City | 8,942,300 |
| • Metro | 10,356,500 |
| Time zone | UTC+6 |
| Website | http://www.dhakacity.org/ |
Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), population 12,560,000[1] (2005 UN projection for statistical metropolitan area), is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative centre of Dhaka District. The city is situated on the Buriganga River, at 23°42′0″N 90°22′30″E / 23.70000°N 90.37500°E (23.7, 90.375). The city was founded more than 1500 years ago, and passed from local to Mughal rule, and later to the British. It became the capital of East Pakistan in 1947, and later of Bangladesh following its independence in 1971.
Dhaka is undergoing an expansion into a modern metropolis, and it is the political, cultural, commercial and industrial heart of the country - many national and international financial institutions, modern industries and businesses are based there. The city's population enjoys a comparatively high literacy and health rate, even though large segments of the population live in slums, mired in poverty. Pollution and overpopulation are rising problems even as tall, modern buildings, shopping centres and planned housing settlements take their place in the city's skyline.
History
Dhaka is known to be in existence since the 7th century A.D. It grew as an urban center, when it became the provincial capital of Mughal Bengal in 1608. The city passed to British rule in 1765. It became the capital of East Pakistan in 1947. In 1971, the city became capital of the newly independent country Bangladesh. It was formerly known under the spelling Dacca.
The origin of the name of Dhaka is shrouded in mystery. Some believe that it is derived from the Dhakeshwari Temple, which was originally built around 12th century by a Sena King. Others believe that the name is derived from the Dhak (drum), which was beaten during the inauguration of the capital in 1608 by the Mughal Subahdar Islam Khan. Dhaka was also known as Jahangir Nagar for some time during the Mughal period in honor of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
In 1947, Dhaka became the administrative capital and largest city of East Pakistan. Its population expanded considerably owing to the development of industries, and an influx of migrants from India and settlers from West Pakistan. The city saw great political unrest, strikes and agitation during the Language Movement, and under martial law from 1969 to 1971, it was the scene of the Pakistani Civil War, in which an estimated millions of Bengali civilians were killed by the East Pakistani Army. With the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Indian forces entered the city and its liberation marked the beginning of the independence of Bangladesh. The city has also seen civil and political violence, strikes and unrest throughout its history as the capital of Bangladesh.
Modern Dhaka has vastly outgrown the so-called Old Dhaka. Statistically, its population has grown to around 13 million during recent decades, due to a population shift from rural areas. Old Dhaka with its important port and various historical sites can still be found at the southern end of the sprawling and disorganised modern city. Though some parts of the city is still not well-developed, places like Gulshan, Banani, Motijheel etc. are shaping up into a modern city.
Civic administration
Dhaka City Corporation is a self-governing corporation that is associated with the task of running the affairs of the city. The incorporated area is divided into several wards. Each ward has an elected ward commissioner. The mayor of the city is elected by popular vote every five years. The city is divided into ten parliamentary constituencies. Whichever party has won the parliamentary elections have also tended to win the majority of the seats inside the capital. Ramna contains the Secretariat, which houses most of the government ministries, the residences of senior Government officials, and is also the seat of the Supreme Court.
Landmarks
Landmarks and tourist attractions in the city include:
- the Dhakeshwari ("Goddess of Dhaka") temple, from which the city probably derives its name
- the Bara Katra palace
- Hoseni Dalan
- the Lal Bagh Fort-Moghul Fort built by Shaista Khan , uncle of Emperor Aurangzeb
- Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban (the National Assembly building), designed by the architect Louis Kahn
- Ahsan Manzil - The "Pink Palace"; now a museum, the building is poorly maintained.
- Baitul Mukarram - The national mosque.
- Bangabandhu stadium - The national stadium.
Demographics
Bangladesh's largest city is the image of Bengali culture and diversity. There are many descendants of the millions who migrated from India in 1947, including a small community of Bihari Muslims. The vast majority of the people are Muslims, but there are significant Hindu, Christian and Buddhist communities. Bengali is the most widely-spoken language, while English and Urdu are understood and spoken by some demographics. There are many english medium schools in the city, and a partial portion of the population are very modernised.
The inhabitants of old Dhaka are called Kuttis, and have distinctive dialects and culture. However, Dhaka being the capital, people from all around Bangladesh have migrated to the city, and now vastly outnumber the original inhabitants.
Economy
Dhaka is also the commercial heart of Bangladesh, its gateway to the world. Dhaka's energy and communications infrastructure is the most modern available in the country, and it accounts for much of Bangladesh's net GDP growth. Most of Bangladesh's skilled workers and college graduates are employed in businesses and industries based in and around the Dhaka metropolitan area. Motijheel is the major business district, containing the headquarters of most of the country's banks and corporate houses, as well as that of the central Bangladesh Bank. The Dhaka Stock Exchange is the country's largest share market. Since 1996, the Bangladeshi government has steadily moved away from socialism and adopted free-market reforms. Dhaka also has the 3rd largest shopping mall in Asia, a great economical boost for the nation.
Dhaka has been the recipient of the boom in foreign investment, service industries and information technology. Dhaka gives the lead to economic growth to the rest of the country. However, poverty, lack of basic services, illiteracy and poor sanitation are still serious problems for the city, as they are for the rest of Bangladesh. Torrential rains and floods cause terrible damage to the city's infrastructure and economy, and most seriously to the population, reducing any benefits of previous improvements and growths.
Transport
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The main mode of transportation in Dhaka city is non-motorized cycle rickshaws. Almost 320,000 rickshaws are run in the Dhaka city every day, of these, 70,000 of them are officially registered [2]. Rickshaws have been blamed for causing traffic congestion, and have been banned from some major city roads despite their low cost and low pollution levels. The next important means of transport are public buses. Although the state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) operates some local and long distance buses there are many (often unregulated) private bus operators such as Salsabeel, Anabeel, Pink, Metrolink, Anik and many other transport companies who provide local bus services as well as premium non-stop bus services between the downtown and the suburbs. Although cheap, these buses are often very crowded.
Before 2002, Dhaka was plagued with pollution from two-stroke 3-wheeler taxis or scooters (locally called Baby Taxi, each carrying about 3 passengers) and human haulers (locally called Tempo, each carried about 10 people). More than 50,000 smoke-emitting taxis polluted the air with carbon-monoxide, lead, and other hazardous compounds. A Government-ban on two-stroke vehicles in 2002 helped clear the air. Since then, the two-stroke taxis have been replaced by four-stroke Green taxis which run on Compressed Natural gas or CNG. A low number of CNG refilling stations created a problem initially, but Government subsidies and allocation of land for such stations have encouraged the establishment of a sufficient number of CNG stations. The Zia International Airport is Bangladesh's main airport, and the bearer of a large traffic and trade across South Asia, Central Asia, Europe and North America.
Education
The education system of Dhaka city falls under the Dhaka Education Board, located at Bakshibazar. There are also English-language schools, and madrassahs which do not fall under the Board's jurisdiction. Primary schools cover class 1 to 5, and secondary schools usually have class 6 to class 10. Higher secondary schools are called Colleges, and cover the 11th and 12th classes. Tertiary education is provided via Degree colleges, Government and Private universities. The University of Dhaka, located at Ramna, is the largest public university of the country. The highly-competitive Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology is the state university providing engineering education. There are also technical colleges providing education in textile and leather technology. Another public university which stands very close to the city named Jahangirnagar University. Medical education is provided through the state owned Dhaka Medical College and Sir Salimullah Medical College, and several private medical colleges. IPGMR provides post-graduate education in medical sciences.
Culture
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The bengali culture is a fine blend of its neighbouring countries and the west. The most popular dressing style for women are Sarees or Salwar Kameez. Men usually prefer western clothing. On April 14 ( The bengali new year, also known as Pohela Baishakh ) girls wearing red (mostly) sarees and men in Punjabi suit cover the streets of Shahbaag, Ramna Park, and The University of Dhaka. Various folk bands and singers from all over the country performs at those street corners, reminding the people of the culture of their nation. Despite the modernization of the capital and the growing popularity of Rock Bands, traditional folk music is still popular in most other parts of the country.
Sports
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Cricket is the most passionately followed sport in Bangladesh, and is a favorite pastime for many residents of Dhaka city. Youths can be seen playing in almost every available spot in the city, and often take their games to side streets due to the lack of fields and open areas in the city. Bangladesh was awarded test-playing status in 2002 by the International Cricket Council, and this has added to the popularity of the sport. Dhaka is home to two of the country's biggest sporting clubs, Abahani and Mohammedan. These two clubs have longstanding rivalries in both cricket and soccer, which is arguably the second most keenly followed sport in the country.
References
- ^ UN Population report, 2003
- ^ Report, Daily Prothom Alo
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