Old Dhaka পুরান ঢাকা | |
|---|---|
![Dhaka City across Buriganga River in a 1861 painting[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aDhakaCity1861.png) Dhaka City acrossBuriganga River in a 1861 painting[1] | |
 Map of Old Dhaka during British rule | |
| Coordinates:23°42′25″N90°24′34″E / 23.70694°N 90.40944°E /23.70694; 90.40944 | |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| District | Dhaka District |
| City Corporation | Dhaka South City Corporation |
| Settlement | Around 500BC |
| Establishment | 1608CE |
| Expansion | After 1910CE |
Old Dhaka (Bengali:পুরান ঢাকা,romanized: Puran Dhaka) is a term used to refer to the historic old city ofDhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.[2] It was founded in 1608 asJahangirabad orJahangirnagar (Bengali:জাহাঙ্গীরনগর,romanized: Jahangirnogor,lit. 'City of Jahangir'), the capital ofMughal Province of Bengal and named after theMughal emperorJahangir. It is located on the banks of theBuriganga River. It was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of theIndian subcontinent and the center of the worldwidemuslin trade. The thenNawab of BengalMurshid Quli Khan, later shifted the capital from Dhaka toMurshidabad in the early-18th century. With the rise of Calcutta (nowKolkata) duringBritish rule, Dhaka began to decline and came to be known as the "City of Magnificent Ruins". The British however began to develop the modern city from the mid-19th century.[3]
Old Dhaka is famous for its variety of foods and amicable living of people of all religions in harmony. The main Muslim festivals celebrated with funfair here areEid-ul-Fitr,Eid-ul-Adha andAshura,[4] Hindu festivals likeDurga Puja,[5]Kali Puja, andSaraswati Puja[6] are also celebrated with enthusiasm. The festivals which are celebrated by all religious communities with much splendor includeShakrain (পৌষ সংক্রান্তি),Pohela Falgun,[7] andHalkhata (হালখাতা). Religion-wise, the old Dhaka is predominantly Muslim, while a significant number of Hindus also reside here. Christians and Buddhists are also inhabitants here in small numbers. Its inhabitants are known as the demonymDhakaiya.
The existence of a settlement in the area that is now Dhaka dates from the 500 BC to 200 BC.[8] The city area was ruled by the ancient Hindu kingdom ofVanga, the Buddhist kingdom ofKamarupa,Pala Empire and theChandra dynasty before passing to the control of theHinduSena dynasty in the 10th century. The name of the town may have derived after the establishment of the GoddessDhakeshvari's temple by Ballal Sena in the 12th century.[citation needed] Dhaka was ruled byHinduDeva dynasty ofBikrampur after the fall ofSena dynasty.
After the Islamic invasion in Bengal, the area came under the reign of theDelhi Sultanate (sometimes tenuously), then by theBengal Sultanate, before being taken over by theMughals in the 1576.[9] Dhaka started to grow from 1610 under the MughalSubedars.[10] The oldest standing mosque was built in 1454 by Bakht Binat during the rule ofNasiruddin Mahmud Shah.[10]
The development of townships and housing has resulted in a significant growth in population, as the city was proclaimed the capital (replacingRajmahal) of theBengal Subah under Mughal rule in 1608. Mughal Subahdar Islam Khan was the first administrator of the city. Khan named the town "Jahangirabad" (জাহাঙ্গীরাবাদ; City of Jahangir) in honour of the Mughal EmperorJahangir, although this name was dropped soon after Jahangir's death.Farashganj (French town) was settled by the French in 1780, then known as French Market. The area is known for its 19th and early 20th century mansions.[11] Farashganj also had the presence of theFrench East India Company.[12] The 18th and 19th century saw significant number ofArmenians settle down inArmanitola, then a predominantly Armenian neighborhood. There is anArmenian Church in Armanitola.[13] The British converted an old Afghan fort into aCentral Jail in 1820.[10] Das Babu, prominent merchant had a daughter Indira, whose tomb is present here. Indira road is named after her and not afterIndira Gandhi as some mistakenly believe it to be.[10]Pogose School, was founded by Armenian businessman Nicholas Pogose, as the first private school in Dhaka.[14] The national political party,Bangladesh Awami League, was founded inRose Garden Palace on 23 June 1949.[15]
The area saw rise in drug abuse, especiallyYa Ba andPhensedyl.[16][17] Old Dhaka has a large number of chemical, plastic, electrical goods factories, and printing presses. The government of Bangladesh is trying to relocate them out of Old Dhaka.[18] In2010 a fire that was flamed by chemical warehouse killed more than hundred people and increased the calls for chemical factories and warehouse to be moved from the area.[19] The narrow lanes make it difficult for fire trucks to reach fires in the area and many of them are too narrow to even fit a fire truck.[20] Dhaka's Third Special Judge's Court is located in Bakshibazar, Old Dhaka.[21]Ansarullah Bangla Team attacked a police check post, leaving two cops injured and the capture of one terrorist on 1 February 2017.[22] It fell under the jurisdiction ofDhaka South City Corporation after the administrative division of Dhaka.[23]
Many of the British and Mughal era buildings of old Dhaka face the risk of being knocked down to be replaced with modern apartment buildings. Conservationist are trying to preserve them but the government of Bangladesh has shown little interest in preserving them.[24][25] The government declaredShankhari Bazaar a heritage site in 2013, which met resistance from the residents who wanted to expand the buildings.[26] In 2014 a mosque built in the place of 1707 construction, which was demolished leading to controversy and criticism.[27] Government run schools are in a depleted condition in Old Dhaka as of 2015.[28] In 2016 the three hundred-year-old Gorostan Shahi Mosque was demolished to build a new structure.[29] Many of the buildings are demolished becauseRAJUK and the Archaeological Department of the government did not list them as historical buildings which would have protected them.[30]
Architecture
Bahadur Shah Park is a 19th-century park that serves as an exercise ground for the residents.Sadarghat is the river terminal of Dhaka City. Shankhari Bazaar is a historically Hindu neighborhood known for its Shakhari (conch musical instrument) makers.[31] The Shakhari also makebangles from the shells. The shops are in decline as many news to buy cheaper bangles made from artificial shell.[32]Northbrook Hall auditorium was founded in 1881; it holds art exhibitions.[33]Pohela Falgun is celebrated in old Dhaka.[34]Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts is a historic art school in Old Dhaka.[35] TheDhaka Central Jail, which has been closed down now houses a museum.[36] The jail was founded in 1788 as a criminal ward. when it closed in 2016 it housed over 8 thousand prisoners.[37] Shakrain is a festival of kite in Old Dhaka. It marks the end ofPoush, the first month of winter in Bangladesh.[38] It also involves rooftop parties,fire-breathing, and fireworks.[39] Bongshal Pond is Tanti Bazaar is a community pool and gathering spot.[40] Chaand Raat (the night before eid) is celebrated here with fireworks and Adda (hangout).[41]Taazia processions are held byShia Muslims on the occasion of Muharram nearHossaaini andBarha Katra.[4] There are 12 musical schools in Old Dhaka.[42] Old Dhaka has a sense of community where neighbors know each other and that differentiate it fromnew Dhaka.[43] During Durge Puja some parts of Old Dhaka are brightly decorated and people play drums in the streets.[44]
Old Dhaka is famous for itsbiriyani,morogpolau, andkebabs.[45]Morog (Chicken)polau is set apart from traditional biriyani in its use of turmeric andmalai (cream of milk) together.[46] An old specialty isbakarkhani with‘kata moshlar mangsho' is meat cooked with whole spices not powder or paste.Farukul er muri (puffed rice) a venture that started in the 1980s.[45] Other well known dishes include "glassy beef" which is beef with a thick layer of oil on top giving it a glassy appearance.Sheer khorma is a desert item that uses a variety of nuts.Nihari andkacchi biryani areMughal dishes famous in old Dhaka.[47] Kazi Alauddin Road andChawkbazar are known for their road side stalls selling traditionaliftar items duringRamadan.[48][49]Boro baper polay khai, made with minced meat, chick peas, eggs, potatoes and 13 different spices, is a Ramadan specialty.[50]Faluda is a traditionaliftar desert andlassi is a specialty drink.[51]Shab-e-Barat is celebrated withroti withHalwa, ornate breads, and breads shaped like fish.[52]Kala Bhuna, a beef dish, was created in Old Dhaka and is a speciality of the area.[53] Old Dhaka is home to the historicPrince of Wales bakery, established in the 1850s in Lakshmi Bazaar by a man fromWales. The bakery has been owned by three generations of the same family.[54]
Local famous foods are:
Farashganj SC founded in 1959 andRahmatganj MFS founded in 1933 are two major Old Dhaka-basedassociation football teams.[55]East End Club, founded in 1933, is one of the top sports clubs in Dhaka producing players likeAminul Islam Bulbul.
The area has well known schools likeDhaka Collegiate School,Pogos High SchoolDhaka govt Muslim high school,St. Gregory's High School & College,K. L. Jubilee High School & CollegeBangla Bazar Govt. Girls High School andSt. Francis Xavier's Girls School & College, Kabi Nazrul Govt. College.[43]Jagannath University is a leading public university in the country located at Old Dhaka.[56]Dhaka College campus was initially located atDhaka Collegiate School premise before moving to its current location.[43]Sir Salimullah Medical College was founded in 1875 in Old Dhaka; its hospital wing isMitford Hospital.[57]
Bengali language is predominantly spoken by the people of Old Dhaka. The most prominentBengali dialects of this region areUrban East Bengali Colloquial dialect[58] andDhakaiya Kutti, spoken by the localBengalis of Old Dhaka inBangladesh.Dhakaiya Urdu, a dialect ofUrdu, mainly spoken by Khusbas community and the members ofNawab Family of Dhaka. TheBihari refugees of Old Dhaka also speak a colloquial dialect ofUrdu.
Dholaikhal in old Dhaka has large number of light engineering firms. The government is also trying to remove chemical factories from Old Dhaka.[59] Counterfeit cosmetics for Dhaka are made in neighborhoods in Old Dhaka.[60]
Old Dhaka consists of 8 metropolitanthanas-Hazaribagh,Lalbagh,Chowkbazar,Bangsal,Kotwali (Dhaka Sadar),Wari,Sutrapur andGendaria. Old Dhaka is under the administration of Dhaka South City Corporation. Old Dhaka is bounded by the areas ofMohammadpur on the west,Dhanmondi,New Market,Shahbagh,Ramna,Motijheel andSabujbagh on the north, Jatrabari andShyampur on the east, adding alsoKamrangir Char Thana andKeraniganjUpazila on the south.
Old Dhaka falls under the control Dhaka South City Corporation.[61]
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List of landmarks in this region:
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