Dhaka History

 

Dhaka History

 

Old Lavani talked to Agudumba about the Islamic customs of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Bangladesh, as well as the ancestor worship activities that year.

Agudengba said to the old man Lavani: The Chinese also have the custom of worshiping their ancestors, but their ancestors not only include their own ancestors and the deceased parents, but also include the ancestors of the nation and country. For example, the Chinese regard the Yan and Huang Emperors as their ancestors, and claim to be Descendants of Yan and Huang. Agudengba also sang a hymn to worship Yan and Huang, "Ode to the Merits of Yan and Huang."

Old Lavani said: Bangladeshis and Chinese are completely different ethnic groups, maybe this has something to do with belief. We might as well go to Dhaka and have a look, you will have a new perspective on Bangladesh.

Old Lavani told Agudumba: Dhaka is located on the north bank of Buriganga River in the Ganges Delta. It is the largest city in Bangladesh and one of the major cities in South Asia, with a population of more than 15 million. Known as the "City of Mosques". Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, the capital of Dhaka Region, and the national political, economic, and cultural center.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is located on the north bank of the Buriganga River in the Ganges Delta. The climate here is warm and humid, with rainfall of 2,500 mm in the rainy season. The city and suburbs are filled with banana trees, mango groves and a variety of other trees. The suburbs are fertile delta plains. Produces jute, rice, sugar cane, rapeseed, etc. Connected with the river port Narayanganj, 16 kilometers south of it, it is the country's largest industrial center and the country's largest commodity distribution center. There are cotton spinning, jute, food processing, paper making and other industries. Traditional products include embroidery, silk fabrics, jewelry, etc. With developed transportation, it is a national railway, highway and inland shipping hub, and has air connections with Chittagong and other places domestically and abroad. There are many ancient buildings and mosques in the city. It houses Dhaka University, University of Industry and Technology, Agricultural University, Nuclear Science Training and Research Center and Library. Recreational facilities include sports fields and Ramna Park. There is Narayanganj Industrial Satellite City 12 kilometers southeast of the city, which is a river port and jute industry center.

Dhaka has a long history, with its earliest history dating back to 1456 AD. João de Barros found Dhaka so prominent on the map that it could be inserted into the map he drew around 1550. It was built in 1608 by Subedar Islam Khan, the governor of Bangladesh in the Mughal Empire. It fell into the hands of the British in 1765. From 1905 to 1912, it was the capital of East Bengal and Assam. It became the capital of East Pakistan in 1947. After East Pakistan became independent in 1971, it was renamed Bangladesh. Dhaka became the capital of Bangladesh.

There are many places of interest in Dhaka, including the Bala Katra Palace built in 1644 for the son of Shah Jahan the Great of the Mughal Empire.

It was built by Sha Shujia to accommodate caravans from Eastern countries. It is a square building surrounded by four sides. Laleba Fort is a three-story castle built in 1678. There are some slender minarets at the south gate. There are many secret passages and a magnificent mosque in the fort, but the whole fort is not completely completed.

The audience hall and bathroom of Tahan are exquisite in style and are now a museum displaying cultural relics from the Mughal period. The owner of Bibi Pali's mausoleum died in 1684. It was built with marble from Rajputana, gray sandstone from Central India and black basalt from Bihar, imitating the rules of the Taj Mahal in India.

Accompanied by Lavani, Agudumba was surprised to find that although Dhaka is the political, economic and educational center of Bangladesh, it is also listed as the most polluted city in the world. Although the Bangladeshi government is actively trying to improve transportation and provide suitable housing for its increasing number of 10 million citizens. However, due to the rising crime rate in the country, hijackings, extortion, riots and murders are commonplace, political violence is rife, and corruption and party strife prevent the Bangladeshi government from solving many problems.

Dhaka is not the kind of city that is full of attractions, but it is not completely without them. From the Muslim Mughal dynasty to the colonial forces of Portugal and the Netherlands, from the emperors of the Hindu landowner era to the British East India Company who likes to scrape people's wealth everywhere in Southeast Asia, they have all left different styles in Dhaka. architecture.

Old Lavani said: Due to economic reasons, most of these prosperous pasts cannot be well preserved, and some of the remaining ones have been converted into museums or government agencies. However, if you look closely, you will still be surprised. Near Chowk Bazaar and Bakshi Bazaar, it is not difficult to find those old, dusty and elegant buildings that imitate the European post-Renaissance style of the 18th century. Western Latin round-arched windows with Hindu-style wooden railings. The best way to identify the bustling city of Dhaka is to remember a North and South Street. This long street becomes "more modern" as you go north, and "more authentic" as you go south.

Old Lavani said with a smile: People who are accustomed to pampering themselves will be embarrassed and surprised here in Dhaka. But in fact everything is so natural. Even poverty is bright and colorful here. In Dhaka, the most fragile umbrella is painted with flowers. All stations are crowded with people coming to the city every day, with only one thought of survival in their eyes. In comparison, shop clerks and vendors are like human beings. Occasionally you meet some middle school students who can study. Only when hopes and contradictions are set against each other can you understand the complex structure of this society. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the deepest exercise of human existence.

Agudumba felt like he was walking in the streets of Dhaka, which was a showcase of the human world. The small streets are like a maze, and the scene is like a manually operated bee colony. The blazing fire in the scone shop was roaring early in the morning. The child laborers had to deliver tea everywhere while they were sleepy. The clerk in the dye shop also served tea with his bright tongue, while various craftsmen showed off their special skills on the open-air street: those who made shell jewelry, those who carved wooden furniture, those who weaved carpets, those who cast iron, and even relied on a sewing machine. He could feed his family by sewing on the street.

People in Dhaka like to talk and laugh. When an animal responsible for transportation comes into the alley, it seems to cause chaos but it is an orderly chaos. Occasionally shouting and teasing, but there is always a smile.

At the southern end of Beinan Street is the river. The old man Lavani said with a smile: The name of the river is Burigangga, which is the lifeblood of Dhaka.

The river is very wide, and boats of various sizes and speeds shuttle across it in an "anarchy" manner. Many large ships unload their cargo here, and the crew members bathe on the deck while waiting for the small boats to load the cargo again. This river is the lifeblood of Dhaka. Stretching along the river bank are the wholesale markets that rely on the docks to survive, selling fruits and vegetables, cane sugar, dyes, tobacco, and tea.

Old Lavani said: Going west from the pier along Water Works Rd, there is an eye-catching pink mansion called Ahsan Manzil. It was a private residence built by a landowner, Nawab Abdul Ghani, on the basis of a warehouse left by the French in 1872. It was later damaged by a tornado, but after the government rebuilt it in 1980, it became even more spectacular than before. Now it is a museum with 23 exhibition rooms on 2 floors, giving a clear view of the luxurious life of the Tudor Emperors called Raj at that time through real life objects and photos.

The small castle here, Lalbagh Fort, is older. It was built in 1677 by Prince Muhammad Ahsan, who governed this area. The project was later handed over to Shaista Khan, who succeeded the throne. Unfortunately, the sudden death of the young princess became a curse that the castle would never be completed. Part of the castle has also been converted into a museum, while other parts remain unfinished and the princess is buried there.

Dhaka's historic monuments are not well maintained, but because they have not been repaired or repaired too much, the historic sites have a stronger sense of historical authenticity. Just like this castle, which is not very spectacular in fact, when you climb to the highest point and look down, it is surging. Honey-colored Dhaka is spread out in front of all living things, the breeze from the river occasionally blows, and the smell of spices in the air is still like the Mughal era in the 17th century. On the lakeside, there are boat-shaped villas built by wealthy people.

The gap between rich and poor in Bangladesh is huge. The rich are extremely luxurious, while the living standards of more people are below the extreme poverty level announced by the United Nations.

The more modern area is north of Dhaka, which is clean and quiet. The relatively wealthy areas are represented by Gulshan. Gulshan can exchange travelers checks and swipe credit cards. There are digital repair centers, supermarkets and some local fast food restaurants that make people smile. Although there are not many, there are also Internet cafes. Many tourists prefer to live in this area, and then go to the south of the city, which is like Dante's "Purgatory" every day.

In fact, there is also a mid-range business district Motijheel between Old Dhaka in the south of the city and Gulshan in the north. There are also city parks in this area where the younger generation likes to hang out. Dhamondi Lake, for example, is a pleasant place full of greenery and surrounded by rivers. In the Mirpur Zoo, the most eye-catching ones are of course the endangered Bengal tigers, as well as countless free-roaming deer. You can also see many beautiful buildings with period characteristics in this area, most of which are Western colonial style. This is not a beautiful piece of history, but its visual beauty is difficult to lose. Some buildings can be visited, but most of them have been converted into schools or government agencies. Generally not open.

Fortunately, there is compensation. Flower markets and handicraft markets are opened next to many parks. The beautiful scene is stimulating. I walked around the park in circles. I stopped to watch the Bangladeshi men stringing garlands, and I was surprised by the tenderness in their eyes and fingers. Jasmine, white lotus, marigold and rose are vivid and fragrant. Foreign tourists love to hang out here, and there are a dazzling array of handicrafts. It takes patience and time to really choose. The most common crafts in Dhaka are pottery making and weaving. The weaving is a unique swirl style, the pattern is very radiant, the color and shape are simple, usually not too big, and very easy to carry. If you add some small pottery candlesticks or small oil lamps, it will be very "Bengali style".

Old Lavani said:

There is another place that you cannot miss in Dhaka, that is Tricycle Street. This is not an official road name, but everyone understands it, and it is the only place where tricycle drivers can understand it immediately. Tricycle Street is a streamlined street where tricycles are assembled, painted, and decorated. Every family has its own colorful tricycle style. The cars are decorated with beautiful faces, flowers, and traditional Islamic decorations, all showing off their skills. This place is definitely a hot spot for photography. The colorful tricycles are the symbol of Dhaka. The most touching revelation is that it doesn’t matter if you are poor, because you can be poor even if you are poor.

Dhaka is the city with the highest number of autorickshaws in the world. The biggest feature is the endless flow of three-wheeled vehicles. The craziest statement is that Dhaka has 2 million tricycles, and the most conservative estimate is 700,000. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is crowded with an army of 700,000 tricycles every day, and the entire vehicles are colorfully painted. Even if you are trapped in a traffic jam where you cannot move, you can still admire them one by one.

Old man Lavani explained: Dhaka does not have underdeveloped transportation. There are trains and buses, but they don’t necessarily run according to time or frequency. Even if you drive, sometimes you may not follow the route, so walking is more of a commitment.

There are 7 million residents living in Dhaka, and only 7% of the city's road area is occupied by roads. There are only 60 traffic lights in the entire city of Dhaka - and not all of them are working.

Old Lavani also introduced the Dhaka Museum to Agudumba.

Dhaka Museum was established in 1903 and opened in 1913. In 1936, the government designated the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University as ex-officio Chairman of the Museum Committee. It was designated as a national museum in 1974. The museum consists of administrative department, archeology department, art department, world civilization department, independence war cultural relics department, display and reproduction department, education and mobile exhibition department, audio-visual materials department, cultural relics conservation laboratory, library and other departments. The collection includes stone tools, red pottery, bronze statues, coins, metalware, handicrafts, ivory carvings, woodware, paintings, musical instruments, etc., as well as historical materials about the War of Independence. Among them, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islamic sculptures, paintings, bronze statues, Quran inscriptions, and Arabic inscriptions from the Middle Ages to modern times are more precious. Book illustrations from the 15th to 18th centuries are valuable collections in museums. The museum has special buses to transport students to visit the museum, as well as mobile exhibition vehicles to transport exhibits to remote areas so that more people can visit.

The Dhaka Museum preserves a large collection of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic sculptures, paintings, Quranic inscriptions, Arabic and Persian calligraphy, ancient coins, golden Buddha statues, world-famous "Muslim textiles", ancient weapons and models of village and town life . On the outskirts of Dhaka, there are fortresses built by the Mughal Empire to resist the invasion of Portuguese colonists, and the old sites still exist.

Old Lavani sang a song "Approaching Dhaka":

 

Approaching Dhaka, Bangladesh

There is a rich culture here

The long and splendid history of the old city

And the natural beauty of South Asia

This is Travel Bangladesh

A must-visit destination for tourists

 

History of Dhaka Old Town

Dating back to the Mughals

It is characterized by narrow streets

There are historical buildings everywhere

There is also a vibrant market

high-rise shopping mall

 

Dhaka has a high population density

is the most populous city

Different cultures, religions and races

forming a melting pot of the city

Extreme wealth and poverty coexist

Rickshaws have become a scenic spot

 

Lalbagh Fort here

is an example of Mughal architecture

Ahsan Manz Pink Palace

Located on the banks of Briganga River

modern architecture capitol building

It is also a tourist attraction

 

Millennium Dakeshwari Temple

Dedicated to a hindu goddess

Bustling river port of Sadaqat

Witness the hustle and bustle of river life

Boat trip along the river

View of the port

 

Beautiful campus of Dhaka University

The oldest and most prestigious

Own a historic landmark

including shahid minal

Dhaka is the city of mosques

capital of bangladesh