View source for Dhaka Division

{{Short description|Division of Bangladesh}}
{{distinguish|Dhaka|Dhaka District|Greater Dhaka|Dhaka City Corporation}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Dhaka Division
| native_name        = ঢাকা বিভাগ
| native_name_lang   = bn<!-- ISO 639-2 code -->
| settlement_type    = [[Divisions of Bangladesh|Division of Bangladesh]]
| image_skyline      = {{Multiple image
| border      = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style =
| caption_align = center
| perrow      = 1/3/2/3/1
| image1      = Dhaka April (33244268934).jpg
| caption1    =[[Dhaka City|Dhaka Skyline]]
|image2= Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum (31000427270).jpg
| caption2    = [[Sonargaon]]
| image3= A Road of Bhawal Nationa Park, Gazipur.jpg
| caption3    = [[Bhawal National Park]]
|image4= Idrakpur kella 17.jpg 
| caption4    =[[Idrakpur Fort]]
|image5= Ahsan-Monzil-Dhaka--Rezowan.jpg
| caption5    = [[Ahsan Manzil]]
|image6= Lalbag Fort Front.jpg
| caption6    = [[Lalbagh Fort]]
| image7= Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in 2022.09.jpg
| caption7    = [[Baitul Mukarram]] 
|image8= Skyline_in_Narayanganj_(02).jpg
| caption8    = [[Narayanganj|Narayanganj Skyline]]
| image9      = Baliati Palace, Saturia, Manikganj (32).jpg
| caption9    = [[Baliati Zamindari|Baliati Palace]]
|image10       = Hajiganj-fort1.jpg
| caption10    = [[Hajiganj fort]]
}}
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Dhaka in Bangladesh.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Dhaka in [[Bangladesh]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|24|10|N|90|25|E|region:BD_type:adm1st_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1829
| seat_type          = Capital<br />{{nowrap|{{nobold|and largest city}}}}
| seat               = [[Dhaka]]
| government_footnotes = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Divisional Commissioner of Bangladesh|Divisional Commissioner]]
| leader_name        = Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury
| leader_title1      = [[Parliament of Bangladesh|Parliamentary constituency]]
| leader_name1       = [[Jatiya Sangsad]] ([[List of parliamentary constituencies of Bangladesh#Dhaka Division|70 seats]])
| unit_pref          = Metric<!-- or US or UK --><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dhakadiv.gov.bd/site/officer_list/93b7900c-9d2f-43cd-9324-fd18ecd7c84d/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B2|title=ঢাকা বিভাগ|access-date=2021-10-28|archive-date=2021-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028081324/http://dhakadiv.gov.bd/site/officer_list/93b7900c-9d2f-43cd-9324-fd18ecd7c84d/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B2|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 20508.8
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2022">{{Cite book |url=https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b343a8b4_956b_45ca_872f_4cf9b2f1a6e0/2024-01-31-15-51-b53c55dd692233ae401ba013060b9cbb.pdf |title=National Report |date=November 2023 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |isbn=978-9844752016 |series=Population and Housing Census 2022 |volume=1 |location=[[Dhaka]] |pages=386 |archive-date=25 September 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925220139/https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b343a8b4_956b_45ca_872f_4cf9b2f1a6e0/2024-01-31-15-51-b53c55dd692233ae401ba013060b9cbb.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_total   = 44215759 (Enumerated)
| population_as_of   = 2022
| population_density_km2 = 2156
| population_urban   = 20752075
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="census2022"/>
| population_rural   = 23454222
| population_rural_footnotes = <ref name="census2022"/>
| population_metro   = 13,941,452
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="census2022"/>
| population_blank1_title = Adjusted Population<ref name="census2022"/>
| population_blank1  = 45644586
| population_demonym = Dhakaiya
| population_note    = <!-- GDP --------------->
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = 
| demographics1_info1 = 
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| timezone1          = [[Bangladesh Standard Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1        = +6
| iso_code           = BD-C
| website            = {{URL|dhakadiv.gov.bd}}
| footnotes          = 
| blank_name_sec2    = Notable sports teams
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Dhaka Capitals]]<br />[[Dhaka Metropolis cricket team|Dhaka Metropolis]]<br />[[Dhaka Division cricket team|Dhaka Division]]
| official_name      = 
| other_name         = Dacca Division
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] {{nobold|(2022)}}
| blank1_info_sec1   = {{increase}} 0.698<ref>{{cite web | url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BGD/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019 | title=Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Table - Global Data Lab | access-date=25 September 2022 | archive-date=25 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925135059/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BGD/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''Dhaka Division''' ({{langx|bn|ঢাকা বিভাগ|Ḍhaka Bibhag}}) is an [[Divisions of Bangladesh|administrative division]] of [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite book |author=Sajahan Miah |chapter=Dhaka Division |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dhaka_Division |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701165842/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dhaka_Division |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dhaka]] serves as the [[capital city]] of Dhaka Division, the [[Dhaka District]] and [[Bangladesh]]. The division remains as a population magnet, and covers an area of 20,508.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> with a population in excess of 44 million, it is one of the fastest growing populous [[administrative divisions]] of the world, growing at a rate of 1.94% since prior count, compared with the national average of 1.22%.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/dhaka/2022/07/27/census-2022-dhaka-home-to-44-million-people-now | title=Census 2022: Dhaka division home to 44 million people now | date=27 July 2022 | access-date=14 August 2022 | archive-date=14 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814122848/https://www.dhakatribune.com/dhaka/2022/07/27/census-2022-dhaka-home-to-44-million-people-now | url-status=live }}</ref> However, national figures may include data skewing expatriation of male labor force as gender ratio is skewed towards females.

Dhaka Division borders every other division in the country except [[Rangpur Division]]. It is bounded by [[Mymensingh Division]] to the north, [[Barisal Division]] to the south, [[Chittagong Division]] to the east and south-east, [[Sylhet Division]] to the north-east, and [[Rajshahi Division]] to the west and [[Khulna Division]]s to the south-west.

== Etymology ==
The origins of the name Dhaka are uncertain. It may derive from the ''[[Butea monosperma|dhak]]'' tree, which was once common in the area, or from [[Dhakeshwari]], the 'patron goddess' of the region.<ref name=britannicaetymology>{{cite encyclopaedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Dhaka |title=Dhaka |encyclopaedia=[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |date=26 June 2023 |quote=Dhaka's name is said to refer to the dhak tree, once common in the area, or to Dhakeshwari (“The Hidden Goddess”), whose shrine is located in the western part of the city. |access-date=11 February 2018 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010143325/https://www.britannica.com/place/Dhaka |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=dailystaretym>{{cite news |last=Ayan |first=Anindya J. |title=History of Dhaka's origin |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/video-stories/watch-glimpse-the-history-dhakas-origin-208639?amp |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=28 January 2018 |access-date=15 April 2023 |quote=In history, it is often believed that Raja Ballal Sen of the Sen Dynasty of Bengal founded the Dhakeshwari Temple in the 12th century to mark the place of his birth and to pay tribute to the patron goddess of this region. The name Dhaka is believed to have originated from Dhakeshwari in the same way Athens got its name from Athena, the patron goddess of the Greek city. |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415135035/https://www.thedailystar.net/video-stories/watch-glimpse-the-history-dhakas-origin-208639?amp |url-status=live }}</ref> Another popular theory states that Dhaka refers to a [[membranophone]] instrument, ''[[Dhak (instrument)|dhak]]'' which was played by order of [[Subahdar]] [[Islam Khan I]] during the inauguration of the Bengal capital in 1610.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Islam_Khan_Chisti|website=[[Banglapedia]]|title=Islam Khan Chisti|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-date=2 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202002132/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Islam_Khan_Chisti|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some references also say it was derived from a [[Prakrit]] dialect called Dhaka Bhasa; or Dhakka, used in the [[Rajtarangini]] for a watch station; or it is the same as Davaka, mentioned in the [[Allahabad]] pillar inscription of [[Samudragupta]] as an eastern frontier kingdom.<ref name="banglapedia">{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Dhaka}}</ref> According to [[Rajatarangini]] written by a Kashmiri Brahman, [[Kalhana]],<ref name="Mamoon 2010">{{cite book |last=Mamoon |first=Muntassir |author-link=Muntassir Mamoon |year=2010 |orig-year=First published 1993 |title=Dhaka: Smiriti Bismiritir Nogori |publisher=Anannya |page=94}}</ref> the region was originally known as ''Dhakka''. The word ''Dhakka'' means ''watchtower''. [[Bikrampur]] and [[Sonargaon]]—the earlier strongholds of Bengal rulers were situated nearby. So Dhaka was most likely used as the watchtower for the fortification purpose.<ref name="Mamoon 2010" />

==History==
{{main|History of Dhaka}}

The history of urban settlements in the area of modern-day Dhaka dates to the first millennium.<ref name="Britannica-Dhaka">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/160598/Dhaka|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|title=Dhaka|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116092341/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/160598/Dhaka|url-status=live}}</ref> The Greater Dhaka region was under the kingdom of [[Vanga Kingdom|Vanga]] and [[Gangaridai]] in ancient period.<ref>{{cite book |author=Enamul Haque |title=Excavation at Wari-Bateshwar: A Preliminary Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_FtAAAAMAAJ |year=2001 |publisher=International Center for Study of Bengal Art |isbn=978-984-8140-02-4}}</ref> The region was part of the ancient division of [[Bikrampur]], which was ruled by the [[Sena dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Dhaka City Corporation |date=5 September 2006 |url=http://www.dhakacity.org/his_pre_mughal.html |title=Pre-Mughal Dhaka (before 1608) |access-date=1 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410184215/http://www.dhakacity.org/his_pre_mughal.html |archive-date=10 April 2008}}</ref> The ancient city of [[Bikrampur]] in Dhaka was also one of the capitals of [[Pala Empire|Palas]], [[Chandra dynasty|Chandras]], [[Varman dynasty (Bengal)|Varmans]] and [[Deva Dynasty|Devas]]. The ancient city of Dholsamudra in present-day Gazipur served as one of the capitals of the Buddhist [[Pala Empire]]. In the sixth century, forts were built in [[Kapasia Upazila|Toke and Ekdala]] which continued to be used as late as the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Period]]. Chinashkhania was the capital of the Chandalas and Shishu Pal had his capital in modern-day [[Sreepur Upazila, Gazipur|Sreepur]], which the ruins of can still be seen today. Another fort was built in Dardaria in 1200.<ref name=Banglapedia/> Under [[Islamic]] rule, the centre moved to the historic district of [[Sonargaon]], the regional administrative hub of the [[Delhi Sultanate|Delhi]] and the [[Bengal Sultanate]]s.<ref name="archive.thedailystar.net">{{cite news |title=From Jahangirnagar to Dhaka |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2008/august/jahangirnagar.htm |url-status=live |department=Forum |work=The Daily Star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208123832/http://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2008/august/jahangirnagar.htm |archive-date=8 February 2015 |access-date=18 February 2015}}</ref>

At the end of the [[Karrani Dynasty]] (1564–1575), the nobles of [[Bengal]] became fiercely independent. [[Sulaiman Khan Karrani]] carved out an independent principality in the Bhati region comprising a part of greater [[Dhaka district]] and parts of [[Mymensingh district]]. During that period [[Taj Khan Karrani]] and another Afghan chieftain helped [[Isa Khan]] to obtain an estate in [[Sonargaon]] and [[Mymensingh]] in 1564. By winning the grace of the Afghan chieftain, Isa Khan gradually increased his strength and status and by 1571, the Mughal Court designated him as the ruler of Bhati.<ref>{{cite news |title=A tale of Baro-Bhuiyans |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=239574:a-tale-of-baro-bhuiyans&catid=175:weekend-independent&Itemid=213 |newspaper=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)]] |location=[[Dhaka]] |date=5 December 2014 |access-date=1 February 2015 |archive-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203062510/http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=239574:a-tale-of-baro-bhuiyans&catid=175:weekend-independent&Itemid=213 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mughal histories, mainly the ''[[Akbarnama]]'', the ''[[Ain-i-Akbari]]'' and the ''[[Baharistan-i-Ghaibi]]'' refers to the low-lying regions of Bengal as ''Bhati.'' This region includes the Bhagirathi to the [[Meghna River]] is Bhati, while others include Hijli, [[Jessore District|Jessore]], Chandradwip and [[Barisal Division]] in Bhati. Keeping in view the theatre of warfare between the Baro-Bhuiyans and the Mughals, the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi mentions the limits of the area bounded by the [[Ichamati River|Ichamati]] River in the west, the [[Ganges]] in the south, the [[Tripura]] to the east; Alapsingh pargana (in present [[Mymensingh District]]) and Baniachang (in greater [[Sylhet]]) in the north. The Baro-Bhuiyans rose to power in this region and put up resistance to the Mughals, until [[Islam Khan Chisti]] made them submit in the reign of [[Jahangir]].<ref name=":0" /> Throughout his reign Isa Khan put resistance against [[Mughal empire|Mughal]] invasion. It was only after his death, when the region went totally under [[Mughal emperors|Mughals]].<ref name=":0">{{cite Banglapedia|author=Abdul Karim|article=Bara Bhuiyans, The}}</ref> [[Isa Khan]] was buried in the village of [[Kaliganj Upazila, Gazipur|Bakhtarpur]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/priyo-desh/2017/11/19/567241 |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] |date=19 Nov 2017 |script-title=bn:ঈশা খাঁর কবর গাজীপুরে! |language=bn |trans-title=Isa Khar Qobor Gazipure |author=Sharif Ahmad Shamim |location=[[Gazipur]] |access-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021164023/https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/priyo-desh/2017/11/19/567241 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort) Dhaka Bangladesh 2011 54.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Ruins of [[Lalbagh Fort]]]]
Dhaka became the capital of the Mughal province of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1610 with a jurisdiction covering modern-day Bangladesh and [[east India|eastern India]], including the modern-day [[Indian state]]s of [[West Bengal]], [[Bihar]] and [[Orissa]]. This province was known as [[Bengal Subah]]. The city was founded during the reign of [[Jahangir|Emperor Jahangir]]. Emperor [[Shah Jahan]] visited Dhaka in 1624 and stayed in the city for a week, four years before he became emperor in 1628.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/my-dhaka/news/shah-jahans-dhaka-visit-he-became-the-mughal-emperor-3413231 | title=Shah Jahan's Dhaka visit before he became the Mughal emperor | date=7 September 2023 | access-date=8 September 2023 | archive-date=8 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908153928/https://www.thedailystar.net/my-dhaka/news/shah-jahans-dhaka-visit-he-became-the-mughal-emperor-3413231 | url-status=live }}</ref> Dhaka became one of the richest and greatest cities in the world during the early period of Bengal Subah (1610–1717). The prosperity of Dhaka reached its peak during the administration of governor [[Shaista Khan]] (1644-1677 and 1680–1688). Rice was then sold at eight maunds per rupee. Thomas Bowrey, an English merchant sailor who visited the city between 1669 and 1670, wrote that the city was 40 miles in circuit. He estimated the city to be more populated than [[London]] with 900,000 people.<ref>Historical Background for the Establishment of Naib-Nazimship (Deputy Governorship for the four Divisions of Subah Bangla), ''Asiatic Society of Bangladesh''</ref>

Bengal became the economic engine of the Mughal Empire. Dhaka played a key role in the [[proto-industrialisation]] of Bengal. It was the centre of the [[muslin trade in Bengal]], leading to muslin being called "daka" in distant markets as far away as [[Central Asia]].<ref>Richard Maxwell Eaton (1996), The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760, page 202, University of California Press</ref>  [[Islam Khan I]] was the first Mughal governor to reside in the city.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Kraas |editor-first=Frauke |editor-last2=Aggarwal |editor-first2=Surinder |editor-last3=Coy |editor-first3=Martin |editor-last4=Mertins |editor-first4=Günter |year=2013 |title=Megacities: Our Global Urban Future |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwHFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 |publisher=Springer |page=60 |isbn=978-90-481-3417-5}}</ref> Khan named it "Jahangir Nagar" (''The City of Jahangir'') in honour of the Emperor Jahangir. The name was dropped soon after the English conquered. Dhaka became home to one of the richest elites in Mughal India.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shay |first=Christopher |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110815-saving-dhakas-heritage |title=Travel – Saving Dhaka's heritage |work=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205130440/http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110815-saving-dhakas-heritage |url-status=live}}</ref>

Under the Nawabs of Bengal, the [[Naib Nazim of Dhaka]] was in charge of the city. The Naib Nazim was the deputy governor of Bengal. He also dealt with the upkeep of the Mughal Navy. The Naib Nazim was in charge of the Dhaka Division, which included Dhaka, [[Comilla]], and Chittagong. Dhaka Division was one of the four divisions under the Nawabs of Bengal. The Nawabs of Bengal allowed European trading companies to establish factories across Bengal. The region then became a hotbed for European rivalries. The British moved to oust the last independent Nawab of Bengal in 1757, who was allied with the French. Due to the defection of Nawab's army chief [[Mir Jafar]] to the British side, the last Nawab lost the [[Battle of Plassey]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In the northern part of the Dhaka division, [[Bhawal Estate]] was a large [[zamindari]] in [[Bengal]] (in modern-day [[Gazipur]], Bangladesh) until it was abolished according to ''East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950''. In the late 17th century, Daulat Ghazi was the zamindar of the Ghazi estate of Bhawal. Bala Ram was Diwan of Daulat Ghazi. In 1704, as the consequence of change in the policy of revenue collection, Bala Ram's son Sri Krishna was installed as the zamindar of Bhawal by [[Murshid Quli Khan]]. Since then, through acquisitions the zamindari expanded. The family turned into the proprietor of the whole Bhawal pargana after purchasing the zamindari of J. Wise, an indigo grower for Rs 4,46,000.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite Banglapedia|article=Bhawal Estate}}</ref> In 1878, [[British Raj]] conferred ''Raja'' title to Zamindar Kalinarayan Roy Chowdhury who oversaw the Bhawal estate.<ref name=bpedia/> At its peak, the estate comprised over 1,500 square kilometer, which included 2,274 villages and around 55,000 villagers.<ref name="haunted">{{Cite web |author=Apurba Jahangir |author-link=Apurba Jahangir |date=13 May 2016 |title=The Haunted Estate |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/heritage/the-haunted-estate-1222729 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626180541/https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/heritage/the-haunted-estate-1222729 |archive-date=26 June 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

On the southern side the notable township was Fatehabad located by a stream known as the Dead Padma, which was {{convert|20|mi|km|order=flip}} from the main channel of the Padma River. Sultan [[Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah]] established a [[Mint (facility)|mint]] in Fatehabad during his reign in the early 15th century. Fatehabad continued to be a mint town of the [[Bengal Sultanate]] until 1538. In [[Ain-i-Akbari]], it was named as ''Haweli Mahal Fatehabad'' during the reign of [[Emperor Akbar]] in the [[Mughal Empire]]. The [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] cartographer [[João de Barros]] mentioned it as ''Fatiabas''. The Dutch map of Van den Brouck described it as ''Fathur''.<ref name="en.banglapedia.org">{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Fathabad}}</ref> By the 19th century, the town was renamed as Faridpur in honour of the [[Sufi]] saint Shah Fariduddin Masud, a follower of the [[Chishti order]] of [[Ajmer]].<ref name="en.banglapedia.org"/> [[Haji Shariatullah]] and [[Dudu Miyan]] led the conservative [[Faraizi movement]] in Faridpur during the early 19th century. The Faridpur District was established by the British in 1786. The Faridpur Subdivision was a part of Dacca Division in the [[Bengal Presidency]] established by the [[East India Company]]. The municipality of Faridpur was established in 1869.<ref name="global.britannica.com">{{cite web|url=https://global.britannica.com/place/Faridpur|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310001530/http://global.britannica.com/place/Faridpur|archive-date=10 March 2021|title=Faridpur|website=Britannica}}</ref> The subdivision covered modern day Faridpur, [[Rajbari District|Rajbari]], [[Madaripur]], [[Shariatpur]] and [[Gopalganj District, Bangladesh|Gopalganj]] districts (collectively known as Greater Faridpur). It was included in [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]] during the [[British Raj]] between 1905 and 1912.

[[File:Bengal gazetteer 1907-9.jpg|thumb|Dhaka was the capital of [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]] in the [[British Raj]] between 1905 and 1912]]
During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian mutiny of 1857]], Dhaka witnessed revolts by the [[Bengal Army]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Rare-1857-reports-on-Bengal-uprisings/articleshow/4637780.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Rare 1857 reports on Bengal uprisings |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105205019/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Rare-1857-reports-on-Bengal-uprisings/articleshow/4637780.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> [[British Raj|Direct rule by the British crown]] was established following the successful quelling of the mutiny. It bestowed privileges on the Dhaka Nawab Family, which dominated the city's political and social elite. In 1885, the Dhaka State Railway was opened with a 144&nbsp;km metre gauge (1000&nbsp;mm) rail line connecting [[Mymensingh]] and the [[Port of Narayanganj]] through Dhaka.<ref name="banglapedia.railway">{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Railway}}</ref> The city later became a hub of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway|Eastern Bengal State Railway]].<ref name="banglapedia.railway"/> The electricity supply began in 1901.<ref name="tusher.kobiraj.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.tusher.kobiraj.com/history-electricity-bangladesh.html |title=History of Electricity in Bangladesh &#124; Thcapriciousboy |publisher= |date=18 July 2013 |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216195149/http://www.tusher.kobiraj.com/history-electricity-bangladesh.html |archive-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Dhaka's fortunes changed in the early 20th century. British neglect of Dhaka's urban development was overturned with the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|first partition of Bengal]] in 1905, which restored Dhaka's status as a regional capital. The city became the seat of government for [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]], with a jurisdiction covering most of modern-day Bangladesh and all of what is now [[Northeast India]]. The partition was the brainchild of [[Lord Curzon]], who finally acted on British ideas for partitioning Bengal with a view to improving administration, education, and business. Dhaka became the seat of the [[Eastern Bengal and Assam Legislative Council]]. Dhaka was the seat of government for 4 administrative divisions, including the Assam Valley Division, Chittagong Division, Dacca Division, Rajshahi Division, and the Surma Valley Division. There were a total of 30 districts in Eastern Bengal and Assam, including Dacca, Mymensingh, Faridpur and [[Barisal Division|Backergunge]] in Dacca Division; [[Comilla Division|Tippera]], Noakhali, Chittagong and the [[Hill Tracts]] in Chittagong Division; Rajshahi, Dinajpur, [[Jalpaiguri division|Jalpaiguri]], Rangpur, Bogra, Pabna and [[Malda division|Malda]] in Rajshahi Division; Sylhet, [[Barak Valley|Cachar]], the [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills]], the [[Nagaland|Naga Hills]] and the [[Mizoram|Lushai Hills]] in Surma Valley Division; and [[Goalpara district|Goalpara]], [[Undivided Kamrup district|Kamrup]], the [[Meghalaya|Garo Hills]], [[Darrang]], [[Nagaon district|Nowgong]], [[Sivasagar district|Sibsagar]] and [[Lakhimpur district|Lakhimpur]] in Assam Valley Division.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Eastern Bengal and Assam}}</ref> The province was bordered by [[Cooch Behar State]], [[Hill Tipperah]] and the [[Kingdom of Bhutan]].

[[File:Time-lapse of the urban growth of Dhaka, Bangladesh as seen from space (1972 to 2001).webm|thumb|NASA animation showing the urban growth of Dhaka from 1972 to 2001.]]
The development of the "real city" began after the [[partition of India]].<ref name="himalmag1">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.himalmag.com/zafar-sobhan-dhaka-bangladesh/ |title=Out of place, out of time |magazine=Himal Southasian |date=26 March 2019 |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928164534/https://www.himalmag.com/zafar-sobhan-dhaka-bangladesh/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After partition, Dhaka became known as the ''second capital'' of [[Pakistan]].<ref name="himalmag1"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/opinion/the-grudging-urbanist/how-politics-and-architecture-blended-dhaka-1623103 |title=How politics and architecture blended in Dhaka |work=The Daily Star |date=20 August 2018 |type=Opinion |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928164532/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/opinion/the-grudging-urbanist/how-politics-and-architecture-blended-dhaka-1623103 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was formalized in 1962 when [[Ayub Khan (general)|Ayub Khan]] declared the city as the legislative capital under the [[Constitution of Pakistan of 1962|1962 constitution]]. The economy began to industrialize. On the outskirts of the city, the [[Adamjee Jute Mills|world's largest jute mill]] was built. The mill produced jute goods which were in high demand during the [[Korean War]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Unthreading Partition: The politics of jute sharing between two Bengals |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/news/unthreading-partition-the-politics-jute-sharing-between-two-bengals-1778560 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=24 October 2022 |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106084737/https://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/news/unthreading-partition-the-politics-jute-sharing-between-two-bengals-1778560 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[InterContinental Dhaka|Intercontinental hotel]], designed by [[William B. Tabler]], was opened in 1966. Estonian-American architect [[Louis I. Kahn]] was enlisted to design the Dhaka Assembly, which was originally intended to be the federal parliament of Pakistan and later became independent Bangladesh's parliament. The [[East Pakistan Helicopter Service]] connected the city to regional towns.

The [[Dhaka Stock Exchange]] was opened on 28 April 1954. The first local airline [[Orient Airways]] began flights between Dhaka and [[Karachi]] on 6 June 1954. The [[RAJUK|Dhaka Improvement Trust]] was established in 1956 to coordinate the city's development. The first master plan for the city was drawn up in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11996774_06.pdf |title=Part II: Formulation of Urban and Transport Plan |access-date=11 February 2018 |archive-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084236/http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11996774_06.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Southeast Asia Treaty Organization]] established a medical research centre (now called [[ICDDR,B]]) in the city in 1960.

After independence, Following the [[History of Bangladesh#People's Republic of Bangladesh|independence of Bangladesh]] in 1971, the country had four divisions: [[Chittagong Division]], Dacca Division, [[Khulna Division]], and [[Rajshahi Division]]. In 1982, the English spelling of the Dacca Division (along with the name of the capital city) was changed into Dhaka Division.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} In the 1990s and 2000s, Dhaka experienced improved economic growth and the emergence of affluent business districts and satellite towns.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hossain |first=Shahadat |date=January 2008 |title=Rapid Urban Growth and Poverty in Dhaka City |url=http://www.bangladeshsociology.org/BEJS%205.1%20Rapid%20Urban%20Growth%20and%20Poverty%20final.pdf?q=dhaka |journal=Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology |volume=5 |issue=1 |access-date=24 September 2016 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818115752/http://www.bangladeshsociology.org/BEJS%205.1%20Rapid%20Urban%20Growth%20and%20Poverty%20final.pdf?q=dhaka |url-status=live}}</ref> Between 1990 and 2005, the city's population doubled from 6&nbsp;million to 12&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dhaka: fastest growing megacity in the world |url=https://theworld.org/stories/2010-09-08/dhaka-fastest-growing-megacity-world |access-date=19 January 2022 |website=The World from PRX |date=2 August 2016 |language=en |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119194102/https://theworld.org/stories/2010-09-08/dhaka-fastest-growing-megacity-world |url-status=live }}</ref> There has been increased [[Foreign direct investment|foreign investment]] in the city, particularly in the financial and textile manufacturing sectors.

==Administrative divisions==

Dhaka Division consisted before 2015 of four [[city corporation]]s, 13 districts, 123 upazilas and 1,248 union parishads. However, four of the most northerly of the 17 districts were removed in 2015 to create the new [[Mymensingh Division]], and another five districts (those situated to the south of the [[Ganges]]/[[Padma River]]) are in the process of being removed to create a new [[Faridpur Division]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-bottom: 0;"
|+
! Name !! Capital !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
!Area (sq mi)!! Population <br /> 1991 Census !! Population <br /> 2001 Census !! Population <br /> 2011 Census
!Population 2022 census
|-
| [[Dhaka District]] || [[Dhaka]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1463.60}}
|565.10|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 5839642}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 8511228}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 12043977 }}
|14,734,024
|-
| [[Gazipur District]] || [[Gazipur City|Gazipur]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1806.36}}
|697.44|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1621562}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2031891}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3403912}}
|5,262,978
|-
| [[Manikganj District]] || [[Manikganj]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1383.66}}
|534.23|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1175909}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1285080}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1392867}}
|1,557,927
|-
| [[Munshiganj District]] || [[Munshiganj Sadar Upazila|Munshiganj]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1004.29}}
|387.76|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1188387}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1293972}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1445660}}
|1,625,354
|-
| [[Narayanganj District]] || [[Narayanganj]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 684.37}}
|264.24|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1754804}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2173948}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2948217}}
|3,908,898
|-
| [[Narsingdi District]] || [[Narsingdi]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1150.14}}
|444.07|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1652123}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1895984}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2224944}}
|2,584,335
|-
| [[Kishoreganj  District]]|| [[Kishoreganj]]|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 2,688.53}}
|1038.05|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 2306079}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 2594954}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 2911907}}
|3,267,626
|-
| [[Tangail District]] || [[Tangail]] ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3414.35}}
|1,318.29|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 3002428}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3290696}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3750781}}
|4,037,316
|-
| [[Faridpur District]]|| [[Faridpur, Bangladesh|Faridpur]]|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 2052.68}}
|792.54|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1505686}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1756470}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1912969}}
|2,162,754
|-
| [[Gopalganj District (Bangladesh)|Gopalganj District]]|| [[Gopalganj, Bangladesh|Gopalganj]]|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1468.74}}
|567.08|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 1060791}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1165273}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1172415}}
|1,295,005
|-
| [[Madaripur District]]|| [[Madaripur Sadar Upazila|Madaripur]]|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1125.69}}
|434.63|| align="right" j |{{formatnum: 1069176}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1146349}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1165952}}
|1,292,963
|-
| [[Rajbari District]]|| [[Rajbari Sadar Upazila|Rajbari]]|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1092.28}}
|421.73|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 835173}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 951906}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1049778}}
|1,189,743
|-
| [[Shariatpur District]]|| [[Shariatpur]]|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1174.05}}
|453.30|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 953021}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1082300}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 1155824}}
|1,294,511
|-
| ''Total Districts'' * || 13 || align="right" |{{formatnum: 20508.80}}
|7,918.49|| align="right" |{{formatnum: 23964789}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 29180051}}|| align="right" | {{formatnum: 36433505}}
|44,213,278
|}

Note: * revised area and its population after excluding the districts transferred to the new [[Mymensingh Division]].

== Sources ==
Census figures for 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2022 are from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Population Census Wing. The 2022 Census figures are based on preliminary results.

==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Dhaka Division (2022)<ref name="census2022"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Bangladesh|Muslims]]|green|93.40}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hindus]]|darkorange|6.26}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Bangladesh|Christians]]|dodgerblue|0.28}}
{{bar percent|Others|black|0.06}}
}}
Muslims are the predominant religious group with 93.40%, while Hindus are main minority with 6.26% population. Christians and others are 0.28% and 0.06% respectively. Out of 44,213,278 population, 41,295,740 are Muslims, 2,766,723 are Hindus, 124,349 are Christians, 20,341 are Buddhist, with some other faiths small population.<ref name="census2022"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

{{Geographic location
|Center    = Dhaka Division
|North     = [[Mymensingh Division]]
|Northeast = [[Sylhet Division]]
|East      = [[Chittagong Division]]
|Southeast = [[Chittagong Division]]
|South     = [[Barisal Division]]
|Southwest = [[Padma Division]]
|West      = [[Rajshahi Division]]
|Northwest = [[Rangpur Division]]
}}

{{Divisions of Bangladesh}}
{{Divisions and districts of Bangladesh}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dhaka Division]]
[[Category:Divisions of Bangladesh]]