The New Nation - Internet Edition

A field trip to Panchagarh: Some surprising experiences

Muhammad Selim Hossain

Like all other earth sciences and scientific disciplines in Geography and Environment, direct observation that is, field study, is basic and more effective method and mechanism of obtaining accurate information. Specially in geographic and environmental research, the significance of field study needs no telling. This is why, in fourth year of four years integrated Honours Degree in Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, a full unit course has been included entitled "Gelb:410-Land use, socio-economic and environmental studies." This course trains us in field techniques and methods of rural and urban land use survey, environmental analysis and socio-economic studies. At the end of the course, the students are assigned to submit a research-oriented report on land use socio-economic and environmental studies of any geographic region. To prepare a report on the mentioned issues, every year fourth year students of the department go on a field trip to different parts of the country. This year, we, the fourth year students of Geography and Environment Department, University of Dhaka, went on a field trip from 17-21 March to Panchagarh to conduct a comprehensive study on land use, socio-economic and environmental studies in Panchagarh town and Hafizabad Union of Panchagarh Sadar Upazila. The field trip was accomplished under the leadership of Mr Borhan Uddin, Professor of the department, and especially under the direct supervision of Professor Nurul Islam Nazem, honourable course teacher.

Panchagarh is one of the worth-mentioning districts of Bangladesh, dear land of our origin. It is the extreme northern (West) district of the country with an area of 140.63 sq. km. which lies between 26o.00 and 26o38' north latitudes and between 88.49' east longitudes. Virtually it is bounded on three sides by 288 km long Indian border, having Darjeeling district on the north, Jalpaiguri and Coochbihar districts on the north east, Dinajpur and Purnea districts on the west, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts on the south and Nilphamari district on the east.

Panchagarh Zila was formerly a sub-division of Dinajpur district. It was upgraded to a zila in 1984 (Population census, 2001). It is generally believed that there were Pancha (means five) Garhs (means Jungles) namely Mirgarh, Hossengarh. Dabengarh, Coat Vojonirgarh and Vitargarh in the present place of the Zila, in consequence of which it was named Panchagarh. Here it is worth mentioning that Panchagarh was a thana under Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal during the British rule.

Physiographically, this landmass belongs to the Himalayan Piedmont plain. Its soil is sandy, alluvial and bears close affinity with the soil of the old Himalayan basin. Maximum temperature is 30o 3oC and minimum temperature is 10.1o C. Annual total rainfall is about 2931 mm. It consists of 5-upazilas.1 municipality, 43 unions and 850 villages.

Historically, Panchagarh is also a land mass of great importance. Soynnasi and Fakir Andolon flourished here during 1763-1800. Tebhaga Andolon originated from this district in 1946. About 30.6% of the total population of this district is literate. Male literacy is about 39.8% whereas female linteracy is about 20.8% (Population census, 2001). It has 1152,32 hectares cultivable land, 1035 hectares fallow land and 1252 hectares forest area. The main occupation of about 51.88 % of the total population of this zila is agriculture. Among the peasants 33% are landless. Main crops are paddy, jute, wheat, potato and sugarcane. Some crops are going to be extinct from this locality including barley, Aus paddy and kaun.

Panchagarh Pourosava and Hafizabad Union were our main study areas. We conducted an intensive land use study in Panchagarh Pourasova and land use, socio-economic and environmental study in Hafizabad union of Panchagarh Sadar Upazila.

Panchagarh Municipality was established in 1985. It consists of 9 wards and 32 Mahallas. The area of the town is 11.36 sq.km. It has a population of 38550; the density of population is about 3393 per sq.km. The literacy rate in the town is about 52.77%.

Hafizabad union is close to Panchagarh Pourasava. It has an area of about 5922 acres. It has a population of about 16406. Literacy rate is about 43.50.

At first we launched a detailed land use survey in Panchagarh town. Then we went to Hafizabad union accompanied by cadastral map. We made observation of every plot with the help of local people and cadastral map and collected 8 land use and 8 socio-economic data of every plot and finally noted down the data using 'Fractional Code System." We collected socio economic and environmental data with the help of detailed and enriched questionnaire. To do so, we talked to different professionals including farmers, labourers, businessmen, school and college teachers, UP chairman and members, local land surveyors, land owners and local people. Besides, we have tried to guess about different parameters of socio-economic condition from direct observation. However, conducting the study we have gathered plenty of sweet and surprising experiences, about their behavioural pattern family and social culture and the locality.

The inhabitants of the locality are every simple and sincere. They are mindful and responsible to their respective duties. Most of them are poor but honest. They are devoted to truth and speaking the truth so to say. They are peaceloving. The social life is very strong. They live in society in peace and happiness. They hardly face unwanted social occurrences. One living in the society never speaks ill of others in their absence. Mutual co-operation and social integration are considerably high. They seek immense pleasure in entertainment of others. They don't become envious of others' progress. Probably they don't even think to cause harm to others. They are very respectful to each other and each other's opinion, interest and facilities.

The frequency of occurrence of chaos involving young girls and boys studying in schools and colleges is very low according to the information provided by the teachers and elite persons of the society. Both the boys and girls are very gentle. They never dare to tease each other but the scenery is frequently found in newspaper. Shazneen is the best example.

Our study reveals that difference between rich and poor is very high. The rich are very economically developed whereas the poor are very economically backward. For example, some families have 200-400 bighas arableland whereas a large number of people (about 33%) don't have any single plot of agriland. They cultivate the land of others. But the important and interesting matter is that mutual relation and understanding among the rich and the poor is satisfactory. They are habituated to view and think any thing positively. Social coherence and family feelings are still very strong. Society is free from riot, injustice, clash, fornication, women molestation and family is still an important social institution. The liking in the society share weal and woe of others. They extend their hands of co-operation, fellow feeling over others if it is necessary.

In the very beginning, the inhabitants of Panchagarh have received us cordially and behaved very well all the time we stayed there. We have been highly honoured and facilitated and have derived co-operation from people of all walks of society including noted managers, restaurant manager, administration, businessman, teachers. UP chairman and members, fellow people and other professionals.

Panchagarh District Administration also deserves immense praise from our part. The administration helped us in different ways, specially in getting cadastral map which was our crying need. More specifically, the Police Administration has taken care of us all the time providing flawless security.

To sum up the simplicity, generosity and nobility, hospitality, praiseworthy mentality and the overall pattern of their behaviour have deeply impressed us. We owe a great deal to them in many ways. They are endowed with a number of excellent, valuable but rare humane qualities. We should learn from them. The Inhabitants and Administration of Panchagarh! I wish you all the best from the deepest part of my heart. What you have done for us will remind us of you to the last moments alive on earth. At the same time I can't but thank the Department for introducing such an interesting course for us. I have immense pleasure to express my deepest sense of gratitude and best regard to my dear teachers Professor Borhan Uddin and Professor Nurul Islam Nazem for taking an attempt to go on such field trip through which we have gained an overall idea about Panchagarh district and have gathered some other sweet and surprising experiences.

Today, the nation is passing through a difficult time both economically and politically. Our politics and politicians are devoid of these above qualities. The reason why the national Parliament of the country has never been functioning. Rather they are polluted and morally degenerate corrupts. The civil society are widely divided in many ways. The reason why they can't contribute significantly to the development of the country. When culminated village politics, social clash and unrest, political clout and instability are very common words in the dictionary of the nation. I feel the absence of these noble qualities essentially for the whole nation. We still are shocked with alarm when we remember the nightmare of 1/11, one of the stigmatised days in the history of Bangladesh and Bengali Nation.

Yet I am hopefully sure to a greater extent that if we posses, nurture and reflect these noble virtues in all walks of society, specially in the political atmosphere, the dream of golden Bengal will not remain as mere dream, rather will come true on a day in very near future. Let us take attempt to possess, nurture these well-timed qualities, do our respective duties accordingly and wait for the long-cherished day eagerly.

Online Banking

Online banking is a trend that has emerged recently. Learn more about the pros and cons of this easy service.

Have you ever found yourself rushing to pay your bills on the weekend because you were too busy during the week? What if you urgently need to send money to a sick relative late at night? There is a relatively new financial service that can come to your rescue called 'online banking'. Read on to learn more about it.

What is online banking?

Online banking is a service provided by a bank to customers, so that they can access their accounts over the Internet, through a secure website. The simplest thing one can do, using this service, is to view the status of their accounts as well as any transactions that have been carried out. Besides checking your account details, an online banking service also allows you to transfer money between multiple accounts as well as carry out electronic transactions. Many banks even allow you to pay some of your bills online, for a small fee.

What are the advantages of online banking?

Convenience: Online banking saves you the hassle of having to wait in a queue. You can access your account and make transactions whenever you like. This way, you do not have to wait until you get some free time off work, or spend your weekend writing checks and queuing up at the bank to deposit them. It also saves time. Just sit down in front of your computer and open up a webpage with your account details on it. In a span of a few minutes, you can check your account details and carry out a transaction. There is no need to manually go through your chequebook. Moreover, you avoid the bother of requiring stamps and envelopes to mail cheques to different places.

Organisation: Online banking simplifies your job of having to shuffle through stacks of paper every month, trying to tally receipts with bank statements. Instead, you can just create a spreadsheet on your computer and enter your expenses and account balances on it. Using simple addition, the computer can automatically tally up both of them and check to see if they match.

Reduced paperwork: With online banking, you are able to avoid the headache of dealing with the papers that tend to accumulate using a regular banking service. Since you can check your account whenever you wish, there is no need for regular bank statements to be sent to you. If you pay bills or make purchases online, you will not have to sign any receipts.

Confidentiality: You can carry out all your transactions in the privacy of your own home. This means no one is likely to find out your account number or password unless you yourself give it to them. You also do not have to worry about losing your receipts or about dishonest storekeepers acquiring your credit or debit card details.

What are the disadvantages of online banking?

Security issues: An online banking system could be targeted by miscreants. Hackers are constantly looking for ways to exploit loopholes in bank websites as well as online stores. 'Phishing' is a term that is used for the scam in which an unauthorised person creates a replica of a website and tricks people into entering their account numbers and passwords. To avoid being tricked, you should always check the security certificate of the website you are using, before you give any details out.

Lack of documentation: When business is conducted online, everything is done through the computer screen and no receipts are given. After you make an online transaction, you should always print out a copy of the online confirmation of your payment. Ensure that details like the amount you paid, product description, terms of delivery, etc. are clearly legible on it. Also, write the date of the transaction if it is not mentioned.

System failure: On a rare occasion, it is possible for an online system to suffer a failure and crash. If it is serious, all your data records could be lost. Prepare for any possible mishaps by regularly backing up your data on CDs and printing out hard copies of any transactions you carry out. Also, have a good anti-virus program installed on your home computer and update it regularly. This will prevent any loss of data at your end.

Online banking is the stepping stone to a future where convenience will be the name of the game. Open your mind to the possibilities of this wonderful service and do not hesitate to explore its benefits.

Milestone College: A milestone itself

Milestone College, one of the reputed college it) the city, has scored a major success in the secondary school certificate examinations this year. The college is being run by the MNRS trust. Milestone College has also English medium section that follows national curriculum.

The academic session of the college section began in 2000-2003. Colonel (retd) Nurun Nabi is the foundation principal of the well-reputed Milestone college.

He was also the former founder principal of Rajuk Uttara Model College and Ex Principal of Jhenaidah and Faujderhat College has almost attained its desired goal within a short span of years.

Last year the number of students in XI and XII classes was 1300. This year the number of students has increased to 1300 only in class XI.

A total of 418 male and female teachers are importing lessons in the college including former principals, professors and senior lecturers from cadet and government colleges.

The college scored 100 per cent success in the examinations. Milestone College is well equipped with modem and advance technology. This college houses a rich library with 20,000 books from home and abroad.

The college has also a lab, a computer lab and a language lab to improve spoken language proficiency.

There are separate residential arrangements for boys and girls along with all time transport and security services.

In the assembly the students are provided with motivational tips and counseling.

Each section comprises only 20-35 students for a congenial interaction between students and teachers.

The College authority keeps necessary files for every student. In a word Milestone College shapes the blooming minds of the learners and takes them to the path of fulfilling the dreams imbued in their hearts.

Healthy cat

Every month you should examine your cat carefully for early signs of illness. Just remember that some cats are very good at hiding illness or pain, so you need to be vigilant. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact your vet.

Your cat's health check list

Body condition - you should just be able to feel, but not see, your cat's ribs. Your cat should have a recognisable waistline and a distinct tummy tuck. Watch for signs of unusual weight loss or gain.

Ears - these should be clear of any thick brown or black wax and have no smell. For thinly-haired cats or cats with white-tipped ears, consider using sunscreen lotion to prevent sunburn (which in turn can lead to skin cancer).

Eyes - should be bright and clear, with no redness, discharge or apparent soreness. Your cat should not shy away from light as if it hurts the eyes.

Nose - your cat's nose is usually soft and damp to the touch. Nostrils should be free of discharge or crusting.

Mouth - teeth should be white with no excess tartar, with pale pink or black gums. Look out for dropping food, excess salivation, clawing at the mouth or bad breath as a sign of dental problems.

Skin and coat - skin can be pink or black, depending on the pigments normally found in your cat's skin. There should be no dandruff, fleas, bald patches or sores, and the coat should be thick and shiny, with no broken hairs.

Nails - should be smooth and, if you have an indoor cat, clipped regularly to prevent ingrowing.

Digestion - occasional vomiting of hair or grass can be normal. But persistent sickness or choking when eating should be checked out. Make sure your cat's stools are normal in colour and consistency, with no diarrhoea or constipation.

Thirst - healthy cats don't appear drink that much, particularly when they eat wet food due to its high moisture content. Outdoor cats will often find liquids away from home. But always have a large bowl of fresh, clean water available, and, in the case of any sharp increase in water intake, consult your vet.

Attitude - cats that feel unwell often shy away from human contact, or act aggressively. Keep a close eye on things, as cats are very good at hiding illness.

Keep your car in top-notch condition

Car Interior

Park in the shade: Of course, a garage is always the ideal place to park your car. But if one isn't available, minimize interior damage from UV sunlight and heat by always trying to park your car in the shade. If no shade is available or if you find parking under a tree results in bird droppings, use a car shade to minimize the sun's impact. As a bonus, you'll have a cooler car to step into on hot sunny days. Car shades come in two basic types: those that you unfold and place on the front windshield and rear window, or pleated types that attach to the windshield posts (with adhesive), window frames (with Velcro), or the windows themselves (with suction cups).

Clean the inside, too: Vacuum and sponge your interior every time you wash your car. Dirt particles are abrasive, and spilled liquids, such as soda, can be corrosive. Vacuum your interior thoroughly with a powerful vacuum (small cordless models are generally too weak). Use the appropriate wand heads when vacuuming. The bare metal wand can mar and scratch surfaces. Sponge vinyl surfaces clean with a solution of mild detergent and water.

Clean dash gauges carefully: Use a soft damp cloth to lightly wipe dust from the clear plastic lenses on your dashboard. Too much pressure will scratch them. Too many scratches can make it difficult to read your gauges under certain lighting conditions.

Let floor mats take winter's beating: Use floor mats to protect carpeting. The best type for controlling salt, slush, and mud in winter are rubber wafflestyle mats. They stay in place, don't allow the water to seep through, and are easy to wash clean. Carpet-style mats are helpful, too. Shake, vacuum, or wash as needed; replace them as they wear through.

Blast mats with the hose: When washing your car, drag out the rubber or carpet floor mats and blast them with the hose. This will dislodge dirt particles that, if allowed to build up, will grind holes in your mats. Let the mats dry thoroughly in the sun before reinstalling them.

For stubborn carpet or mat stains: After vacuuming floor mats or interior carpeting, apply foam rug cleaner to resistant stains as directed by the maker. Work the foam into a few square feet at a time, using a wet sponge or brush. Vacuum when dry.

Preserve door and window seals: Wipe a rubber protectant (such as Armor-All) or silicone on door and window weather-stripping to keep it in good condition. Don't use an oilbased product, such as WD-40, because the oil will damage the rubber. Regular cleaning and treatment of your car's weather-stripping will also lessen the likelihood of your door sticking to its rubber seal in cold weather, a common cause of damage to the rubber.

Fix bad weather-stripping immediately: If your weather-stripping is letting rainwater leak into the interior of your car, take a look at it and decide if you can repair it or if it needs to be replaced. Small leaks can be handled with brush-on seam sealers. Resecure loose sections, not otherwise damaged, with trim adhesive. Torn sections may be repaired with special caulking available at auto parts stores. You may also be able to extend the life of worn-but-intact sections by inserting foam rods, available at automotive stores, into the hollow section of the weather-stripping. If you decide to replace entire sections of gasket, don't simply buy generic stuff such as you'd use around the house. Buy a product that matches your car's original weather-stripping -- it's available in a wide variety of profiles from dealerships and automotive mail-order catalogues.

Keep leather from drying out and cracking: Leather cars seats are durable and don't require a lot of maintenance. After a few years, however, the seats can become soiled. Use leather cleaner to remove dirt and stains. Then apply a leather protectant formulated for pigmented or top-coated grain leather (the leather used for most leather car upholstery). Protectants will resist stains and make the upholstery easier to clean in the future. Choose a protectant that includes conditioners to keep your leather supple.

Use upholstery cleaners on soiled seats: The same upholstery cleaners you use at home can be used on your car's upholstery. Use them sparingly, however, to avoid saturating the fabric. Use a clean cloth to wipe away the foam. On velour seats, brush the fibers gently to avoid matting them and to preserve the original texture of the fabric.

Renew fabric upholstery: Spraying fabric car seats and carpets with a fabric protectant, such as Scotchgard, will make them resist dirt and stains, and make them easier to clean. Thoroughly clean the fabrics before using one of these products and then test the product on an inconspicuous place to be sure the treatment will not discolor the fabric.

Place a towel under baby seats: All manner of food bits and liquids can accumulate under a baby seat, where they can permanently stain the upholstery. Place a sheet of heavy plastic and an absorbent towel under the seat to prevent damage, and re-secure the seat according to the manufacturer's directions.

Car Exterior

Protect car paint from the sun: Paint does more than make your vehicle look great. It's also the first line of defense against rusted body panels. Of course, the best way to protect the paint is to park the car in a garage. If that is not possible, park in the shade or purchase a car cover. The sun's ultraviolet rays break down paint and cause it to fade. Some car covers protect your car from more than sun, moisture, bird droppings, and dust -- they also have a thin layer of cushioning that will guard against light impact, such as from a tipped bicycle or small falling tree branch.

Touch up nicks sooner rather than later : Touch-up paint won't adhere well to rust. So be sure to keep some matching touch-up paint on hand so you can touch up any minor nicks, often found around door edges, before rust has a chance to form.

Tape saves light covers: A cracked taillight or turn-signal cover, if left alone, may allow your light compartment to fill with water and cause some real damage. A good short-term fix is to tape over the crack. Use the red or orange tape that's made for this purpose. You can purchase it at many automotive parts stores.

Avoid light fixture problems: When changing a bad bulb, clean dirty or corroded sockets with fine steel wool or a small wire brush. Wipe the socket clean of debris before installing the new light bulb.

Fix small windshield chips: Got a rock chip, crack, or ding in your windshield? Bring your car to a windshield repair shop. For far less cost than replacing the windshield, they can fix chips and cracks, even quite long ones. The repairs not only keep the chips and cracks from spreading and restore structural integrity, they also improve clarity.

Fill with washer fluid only: Don't add water to the windshield washer reservoir. It won't clean as well as washer fluid, and it may freeze in cold weather and damage the system. Don't try to run your windshield washer system once you suspect there's no more fluid in the tank, or you may damage the washer fluid pump.

Fix the washer fluid tank: Cracked washer-deicer fluid tanks are fairly common once a car is of a certain age. A good remedy -- until you can buy a new tank or find one at the junkyard -- is to insert a plastic freezer bag into the tank and fill it with the washer fluid.

Don't try to carry too much: Never exceed your car's roof load specifications or weight limits. You can find them in your vehicle owner's manual. Check the weight limitation of your roof rack as well. Typically the range is from 150 to 200 pounds (68 to 90 kg). That's the equivalent of eighteen 8-foot 2 x 4s (2.4-meter 38 x 89s) or three sheets of 3/4-inch (17-mm) plywood. If you have to deliver a heavy load from the home or garden center, consider having it delivered. It will save wear and tear on you as well as your car.

Keep an old blanket handy: Protect your car's roof from scratches with an old blanket before tying lumber, bicycles, or luggage to your roof rack.

Secure loads to avoid dents and scratches: The beginning of the end for the finish on many cars and trucks -- and for wagon and hatchback interiors for that matter -- is an improperly stowed load. Invest in the appropriate racks for bicycles, cargo, and luggage. A good trick to keep tall objects from sliding around in a pick-up truck bed is to use a shower curtain rod (or two) as a brace. Just push the cargo against the front wall of the truck bed and install the rod behind it. Twist to secure. Cargo nets will also help keep objects from banging around and damaging a truck bed.

Inspect wheel-well splashguards: These guards, however flimsy on many of today's cars, help keep water and winter's salty slush from splashing up into the engine compartment, where it can damage sensitive electrical components. Unfortunately, these guards tear off easily -- sometimes without the driver knowing it. Check for damage to these guards when you wash your car. Re-secure with the appropriate fasteners or replace as needed. As added protection from splashed-up muck, slush, and debris, install mud flaps (also called splash guards) on your vehicle.

Wash in winter, too: If you rarely wash your car during messy winter weather, you are not alone. The cars you see on the road make it obvious that lots of folks figure, "Why bother? The car is going to look awful the next time I drive it." The problem with this thinking is that washing is more important in the winter than other times of the year. All that sand, slush, and ice mixed with road salt is exactly what makes your car rust. The fastest corrosion occurs when the temperature repeatedly rises above and then falls below freezing. Especially during the messy months, be sure to rinse the undercarriage and hard-to-reach areas that are susceptible to rust, such as the bumpers and inside the wheel wells. If the temperature outside is going to stay above freezing long enough for your car and driveway to dry, fill a bucket with warm water and tackle the job at home. If not, pay a visit to your local car wash and be sure they dry the car thoroughly.

Wax to protect your car's paint job: No way around it! Waxing your car is work. But it's satisfying work that will help keep your car looking new. Car wax preserves paint by slowing oxidation and forming a barrier against bird droppings, sap, and pollution. Plus driving a nice shiny car is just plain fun.

Here's what to do to ensure the maximum in protection:

Liquid and spray waxes are tempting to use -- they make the car shiny with less work than rubbing in paste wax. But there's still no beating paste wax for the hardest, longest-lasting finish. Look for paste with a high carnauba wax content.

Apply a thin, even coat of wax to the car's surfaces with a damp sponge. Avoid applying too much, or it will be difficult to remove and some residue will inevitably mar your finish.

To avoid fine scratches, use a clean, soft cotton or microfiber cloth to remove wax once it has dried.

Apply an extra coat of wax to the nose and hood. The wax film in these areas wears away quickly.

Give your car a new skin: New self-adhering urethane films have been developed to protect the most vulnerable painted areas on your car from stone chips and other minor abrasions. You can wash and wax these surfaces, just as you would the rest of the paint job. While it's best to have these films professionally installed, you can peel them off yourself. One product is made by 3M, and you can learn more by going to 3m.com and searching for Scotchgard Paint Protection Film Solutions

Don't let tools mar your car's finish: If you plan to service and make repairs to your car, invest in a fender cover. It drapes over your fender, providing a safe place to rest your tools without causing scratches. It will also prevent your belt buckle from marring your paint as you lean into the engine compartment to work.

400 years of Capital Dhaka

Faruque Hasan

This year, 2008 A.D., is the 400th anniversary of Dhaka as a capital; though Dhaka as a town or an urban settlement is much older than it is as a capital. How old is Dhaka City is very difficult to say.

King Srigupta of north Bangladesh laid down the foundation of the illustrious Gupta Empire (320-450 A.D.) of the Indian history. Harisen, the poet-laureate of Emperor Shamudragupta, who was the grandson of Srigupta, mentioned of 'Dabaka' in his eulogy for the Emperor, 'Allahabad Prashasti' written in the 4th century A.D. Dabaka mentioned in that inscription is today's Dhaka.

King Ballal Sen, the second ruler of the Sena Dynasty (1195-1204 A.D.), built the Dhakeswari temple in Dhaka more than eight hundred years back from today. No trace of that temple can now be seen, but the four Siva temples erected by Raja Man Singh, the commander-in-chief of Emperor Akbar, at the site of that temple, in the wake of 17th century still stand there. Man Singh stayed in Dhaka during the years 1602-04 A.D. while he was fighting against Isa Khan, the leader of the Bara Bhuiyn - the independent petty kings of Bangladesh.

The oldest brick structure, which still exists in Dhaka City, is the one-dome Binot Bibi Mosque at Narinda, built in 1457 AD. Though the mosque could save itself for about five hundred and fifty years from the onslaught of time and humid climate, unfortunately, it is now being demolished by some people, ignorant of national history and heritage. They are destroying this oldest structure of the Dhaka City to build a bigger mosque and a madrasha on the site.

The second oldest brick structure of the Dhaka city is the Mirpur Majar mosque, also one domed, and built in 1480 AD.

There was a big fort in Dhaka before it became the capital of Sube Bangla-a province of Mughal Empire. Mirza Nathan wrote in his book, Baharistan Ghaibi, that Dhaka and Gaur were the biggest forts in pre-Mughal period. Mirza Nathan came to Bangladesh in 1608 A.D. as a commander of Islam Khan, who as the Subadar (governor) of Bengal appointed by Emperor Jahangir. In fact, the word 'Dhakka' means a 'watch station'. Dhaka may have derived its name from its being a place for a watch station. Some people say that this city has got its name from the tree, Dhak (Butea frondosa), which used to grow in plenty at this place.

Dhaka is located close to two ancient capitals of Bengal, Vikrampur and Sonargown. So, it was very natural that this place was pivotal to the defense of these two capitals; and as a result, grew up as a cantonment town as well as a business center.

Islam Khan became the Subadar of Suba-e-Bangla (the province of Bengal) in 1608 A.D. At that time the capital of the Suba was Rajmahal. On being appointed as the Subadar, Islam Khan decided to transfer the capital from Rajmahal to Dhaka. He renamed Dhaka as Jahangirnagar after the name of Emperor Jahangir, his mentor, and sent two of his officers along with their subordinates to Dhaka two weeks ahead of him "to put the old fort into a good state of repair, and make it fit to receive the Governor".

On his way to Dhaka, his new capital, with his army, Islam Khan got engaged in fighting against Musa Khan, the son of Isa Khan and the then leader of the Bara Bhuiyn, at Ghoragat. The fighting delayed his arrival to Dhaka till the year of 1610 A.D. Musa Khan's tomb and a mosque built by him now located on the courtyard of Shaidulla Hall.

In Dhaka, Islam Khan used to stay in the old fort, which is now the Dhaka Central Jail. Since his time Dhaka started growing bigger in size as a capital. Manrique, who came to Dhaka in 1640 A.D., described it as a "great and famous city". He mentioned of a Magh raid on Dhaka which had taken place twelve years before he came here. The Arakanese Magh king, Thudhamma, with the help of Portuguese, and on the invitation of Raja Kedar Roy, one of the Bara Bhuiyn, landed in Dhaka without any résistance from the Mughal contingent stationed here. The Magh spent three days sacking the city, setting fire to it at deferent parts. On hearing that a great force of Mughal cavalry was on the way to Dhaka, they left the city on forth day.

The Portuguese took away one of the daughters of Kedar Roy, Angelica, who was later traced at St. Helena, a island in the south Atlantic, helping the British conquer the island from the Portuguese. At that time many Bengalis used to work as Khalashi (sailors) in Portuguese ships. Ali was the leader of a group of khalashi. He joined hands with Angelica to help the British.

Tavernier visited Dhaka in 1666 A.D. and wrote, "Dhaka is a great town……….The length of this town is about two leagues." Captain Bowrey, who came to Dhaka about twelve years after Tavernier had come, wrote, "The city of Dhaka is very large and specious one……"

Mir Jumla was appointed the Governor of Bengal in 1660 A.D. He conducted a successful campaign against Assam. On his coming back from Assam he brought with him two huge cannons to Dhaka. The cannons were set on the bank of Buriganga River. One of them fell into the river and got lost for ever. The other, called Bibi Marium, transferred to Chalkbazar. Sometime in 1950s it was brought to the traffic island at Gulisthan, and became known as 'Gulisthaner Caman'. Once very famous, this cannon has got lost in oblivion of the people due to its present inconspicuous location at Osmani Uddyan.

Mir Jumla erected the Dhaka Gate, which now stands in good condition near the Doel Chattar. This was a gate on the north to enter the main part of the city at that time. Not much later Dhaka expanded further north beyond that gate, at one stage, up to Tongi. As a capital, Dhaka started flourishing fast in trade and commerce that attracted many foreign traders to it. The city became the main center for Muslin trade. Dutch, French, English, Armenian and Greek traders flocked to Dhaka to do business. They established their own trading houses. With the traders also came Christian missionaries.

The Portuguese Jesuit Missionary built the first church in Dhaka at Tejgown in 1677 A.D. Though at that time Tejgown was the suburb of Dhaka City, but afterwards when the city lost its status of a capital and gradually shrank, a thick jungle grew in between the city and Tejgown. In early nineteenth century, William Robinson wrote, "Tejga is a village …. The way to it from Dhaka lies through a dense jungle, once the site of numerous pleasure gardens: the walls of which in many places still remain. This jungle is beautiful in appearance, but it is not passed without danger, it being the habitation of tigers."

Prince Azam, son of Emperor Aurongajeb, started the construction of the Lalbag Fort in 1678 A.D., but before he could complete it he had to leave Sube Bangla. In his second tenure (1678-1680 A.D.) as the Subadar, Shaista Khan continued the construction of the fort. But on the death of his daughter, Pari Bibi, he abandoned the construction; and the fort remained incomplete. Lalbag Fort is going to be recognized soon as a 'World Heritage' by UNESCO. Ibrahim Khan became Subadar of Bengal in 1689 A.D. He built the Jinjira Palace on the south bank of Buriganga River. A wooden bridge on the river connected the palace to the north bank. Bishop Heber came to Dhaka in 1824 A.D. to consecrate the Anglican Church on Johnson Road, to the north of Bahadur Shah Park. He described Jinjira Palace as bigger than the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. After the Battle of Plasy in 1757 A.D., Amena Begum and Ghaseti Begum, the mother and aunt of Nowab Sirajuddawla, were kept as prisoners in this palace. On the behest of Miran, the son of Mir Zafar, they were taken to the river Dhaleswari and killed by drowning in the river.

A few decades back from now the ruins of the Jinjira Palace were traceable, but at present no trace of it is there; the destructive hands of human being have obliterated everything of it from the face of the earth.

Prince Azimushshan, grandson of Emperor Aurongajeb, became the Subadar of Bengal in 1697 A.D. The Emperor Appointed Murshid Kuli Khan as the Dewan of the Suba in 1700 A.D. The Subadar used to live in Rajmahal, but the Dewan, in Dhaka. The relation between the Subadar and the Dewan was extremely bad. Azimushshan made a futile attempt by his men in Dhaka to kill Murshid Kuli Khan in 1704 A.D. For the safety of his life, Murshid Kuli Khan immediately shifted his office from Dhaka to Murshidabad. When in 1717 A.D. he was appointed the Subadar, Murshidabad became the capital of Bengal. Though Dhaka remained as a seat for a deputy governor.

Murshid Kuli Khan built a beautiful mosque at Begum Bazaar. The mosque is now surrounded by shops on all sides. Our national mosque, Baitul Mokkarram has taught us that shops can be built around a mosque. We have been relentlessly following that teaching.Some famous Mughal buildings in Dhaka are: the tomb of Pari Bibi (1684), Bara Katra (1664), Choto Katra (1663), Husaini Dalan (1642), the Great Idgah (1640), Churihatta Mosque (1649), Satgombuz Mosque (1680), Khan Muhammad Mridha Mosque (1704) etc. Bara Katra and Choto Katra are now on the point of destruction. The mosque of the Great Idgah at Dhanmondi has been defaced in the name of extension. With the losing of the status as a capital at the hands of Murshid Kuli Khan, Dhaka started declining fast. During the time of Shaista Khan (1644-77 and 1680-88 A.D.), Dhaka City extended along the Burriganga River for about 10 (ten) miles. Rennell's map of Dhaka, published in 1780, showed that the extension of the city shark to only about four miles.

The lithographs and sketches of Dhaka City done by Sir Charles D'Oyly, who came to Dhaka in 1808 A.D. as the collector of the East India Company and left the city in 1824 A.D., show how the city lost its glamour and became almost ruined by that time.

During Mughal Period two rivers, Dulai and Pandu, with their branches used to flow through the Dhaka City. Dulai River gradually turned into Dholai Khal (canal) and in 1960's choked up with earth. Lohar pul (Iron Bridge) at Gandaria was on the Dulai River. There was a bridge on the Pandu River, known as Ambar Shah Bridge, which connected Shahbag with Kawran Bazzar. The deep and dry canal in Paribagh, which has very recently been filled up, and the canal in the back of Hotel Sonargown, which is now being excavated, are actually the parts of the course of Pandu River.

Pandu River had at least two branches to the south to fall into the Dulai River. One branch flowed east of Suhrawardy Uddyan in south-eastern direction. The trace of the other branch was visible even a few years back between Nazimuddin Road and Dhaka Medical Collage. Chankhar Pol was on this branch. Dulai and Pandu rivers have got obliterated in the hands of imprudent and land grabber human beings. It is now the turn for Burriganga, Turag and Balu rivers to get obliterated by them under the eyes of unconcerned administration.

At the partition of Bengal in 1905 A.D., Dhaka was made the capital of the newly formed province of East Bengal and Assam. But the bonanza was short lived. In 1912 A.D. the partition of Bengal was annulled by King Gorge the Fifth at Delhi Darbar, and Kolkata became the capital of united Bengal; at the same time the capital of the British-India Empire transferred from Kolkata to Delhi. Dhaka was compensated, for its being stripped of the status of a capital, with the establishment of Dhaka University in 1921 A.D. The residence building built for the teachers of the university on the Mintoo Road are now being used as the residence of ministers.

As the Old Dhaka is the Mughal part of the Dhaka City, Ramna area is the British part of it. Some landmark buildings in Dhaka built during British period are: North brook Hall, Ahsan Manjil, Rup Lal House, Curzon Hall, Old High Court building etc. Curzon Hall, now a part of the Dhaka University, was originally meant for a town hall. The Physics Building built to the west of the Curzon Hall during the Pakistan Period has such an ugly look that looking at the two buildings standing side by side make one remember the phrase 'the beauty and the beast.' The Physics Building could have been built after the architectural design of the Curzon Hall.

The British left Indian subcontinent in 1947 A.D., and Dhaka became the capital of East Bengal - the eastern wing of Pakistan. Later in 1956 A.D. the political name of East Bengal was changed into East Pakistan. With the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country in 1971 A.D. through the nine-month long liberation war, Dhaka has become the capital of the country.