Dhaka Division

Dhaka Division
ASaber91 · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Dhaka Division
Native name	ঢাকা বিভাগ
Settlement type	Division
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Bangladesh
Established title	Established
Established date	1829 (as Dacca collectorate)
Seat type	Capital
Seat	Dhaka
Area total km2	20,508
Population total	44,330,000
Population as of	2022 census

Dhaka Division is an administrative division in central Bangladesh that contains the national capital, Dhaka. The division is the most populous among Bangladesh's divisions and serves as a political, economic, and cultural hub linking historic sites such as Lalbagh Fort and Ahsan Manzil with modern institutions like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Bangladesh Bank. It encompasses a mix of urban conurbations, riverine plains, and agricultural districts, and hosts major events tied to Bengali nationalism, Bengali language movement, and national celebrations such as Pohela Boishakh.

History

The territory saw successive rule by ancient polities including the Maurya Empire, the Gupta Empire, and the regional Pala Empire, followed by incorporation into the Delhi Sultanate and the Bengal Sultanate. Mughal administration established Dacca as a provincial center with landmarks like Lalbagh Fort and the shipbuilding economy noted in accounts by visitors such as Ibn Battuta and Abul Fazl. During the British Raj the area formed part of the Bengal Presidency and later attracted infrastructure projects such as the Eastern Bengal Railway and irrigation works tied to colonial revenue systems. The division played roles in the Partition of India (1947), subsequent political movements culminating in the Language Movement of 1952, and the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, with urban uprisings and refugee flows involving entities like Mujibnagar Government and international responses including the United Nations.

Geography and climate

The division occupies central alluvial plains of the Ganges Delta fed by rivers including the Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra tributaries such as the Shitalakshya River and Jamuna River channels. Topography is predominantly low-lying floodplain interspersed with chars and natural levees, with ecologically important wetlands like the Hakaluki Haor region influencing biodiversity recorded by organizations such as the IUCN. Climate is classified as humid subtropical to tropical monsoon under systems used by Köppen climate classification, producing a hot, wet summer monsoon regime and mild, dry winters that affect cropping calendars for Boro rice and Aman rice as catalogued by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Administrative divisions

The division is subdivided into multiple districts including Dhaka District, Faridpur District, Gazipur District, Kishoreganj District, Madaripur District, Manikganj District, Munshiganj District, Narayanganj District, Narsingdi District, Rajbari District, Shariatpur District, and Tangail District. District administrations coordinate with national ministries such as the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (Bangladesh) and municipal bodies like Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation. Local governance units include upazilas and union parishads established under legal frameworks exemplified by the Local Government (Union Parishads) Act, 2009 and earlier district reorganization orders issued during the British Raj and post-independence reforms.

Demographics

Census data show the division contains a majority Bengali people population with linguistic predominance of Bengali language and religious communities including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. Urban growth around Dhaka and satellite towns like Gazipur and Narayanganj has produced high population density and migration patterns from districts such as Tangail and Faridpur District, influencing housing, public health agencies like Directorate General of Health Services (Bangladesh), and social services administered by entities such as the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Economy and infrastructure

Economic activity spans textile and garment manufacturing centered in industrial zones tied to companies like firms exporting under Ready-made garment industry of Bangladesh, jute industries with historic mills such as operations formerly in Narsingdi District, and service sectors anchored by institutions including Bangladesh Bank and stock exchanges like the Dhaka Stock Exchange. Agricultural production includes staples and cash crops promoted by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation programs. Infrastructure projects include flood control and river dredging coordinated with agencies like the Bangladesh Water Development Board, power generation overseen by Power Development Board (Bangladesh), and urban development projects financed by multilateral lenders including the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

Culture and education

Cultural life features heritage sites like Ahsan Manzil and Star Mosque, festivals such as Bengali New Year and commemorations at Shaheed Minar, and institutions for arts and media including the Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Betar. Higher education is concentrated in universities such as University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Jahangirnagar University, and specialized colleges like Bangladesh Medical College. Cultural organizations and publications include Daily Ittefaq, The Daily Star, and performing troupes linked to venues such as the Shilpakala Academy.

Transportation and communications

The division is served by transportation nodes including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and inland hubs like Kamrangirchar river terminals, long-distance rail lines operated by Bangladesh Railway, and major highways such as the Dhaka–Chittagong Highway (part of Asian Highway 1) and arterial routes connecting to Mawa Ghat and ferry terminals on the Meghna River. Urban transit initiatives include Dhaka Metro Rail projects, mass rapid transit proposals backed by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and World Bank, and public bus systems regulated by authorities like the Transport Corporation of Bangladesh. Telecommunications providers established in the region include Grameenphone, Banglalink, and Robi Axiata, with internet backbone and data centers supporting national networks managed by entities such as Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited.

Category:Divisions of Bangladesh